The Hindu

• Poor response to notices from Fire Services Department: DC 
• `Most high-rises are not prepared to meet disasters'
• Conduct safety drills to create awareness: Maheshwar Rao

Mangalore, Nov 14: For a city that is witnessing vertical growth in almost every nook and corner, awareness among residents of high-rise buildings about preparedness to meet any disaster, natural or man-made, is apparently low.

This is evident from the kind of poor response received by Department of Fire and Emergency Services to notices served on owners and residents of such buildings regarding safety norms followed by them.

Presiding over the National Disaster Reduction Day celebrations organised by Home Guards and Civil Defence, and Fire and Emergency Services here on Monday, Deputy Commissioner M Maheshwar Rao noted that it was apparent that most high-rise buildings in the city were not prepared to meet disasters of any sort.

Besides, there was also an apparent lack of knowledge on procedures to be adopted in such cases, he said.

The district administration and agencies involved in mitigating disasters hade to conduct safety drills in such buildings and create awareness amongst people in this regard, he said.

Stating that the various rescue and emergency drills carried out on the occasion were a pointer to the preparedness of the authorities in handling disaster situations, Mr. Rao said there was also a need to train students and people at least basic concepts such as first aid.

Superintendent of Police B Dayananda said the Union and State Governments were laying great emphasis on the need for preparedness to meet any sort of emergencies.

Dayananda said such celebrations would serve as important means to create awareness among public.

Dayananda distributed prizes to the winners of quiz, essay writing and drawing competitions organised for students as part of the celebrations.

The highlight of the day's celebrations was an action packed demonstration on rescue and emergency services by personnel of Home Guards, and Fire and Emergency Services.