Dhankuta, May 2

The situation on the playground of Nijamati School in Chuliban of Dhankuta Municipality was enough to raise an alarm. The heightened activities of security forces gave the impression that a serious disaster had befallen.

It, however, was only a disaster preparedness drill organised by Nepal Red Cross Society Dhankuta with financial assistance from American Disaster Management Assistance Programme.

“As the district had incurred damage to property worth millions of rupees from fire incidents in the past one-and-a-half months, the drill was to train the local community on preparatory measures in the event of such a disaster, while also letting local health workers and personnel of the Red Cross and security agencies practise their skills in a simulated situation,” said Nepal Red Cross Society Province 1 President Narendra Pokharel.

The drills on dousing fires and measures for staying safe, rescuing the injured and providing first aid treatment and taking the injured to hospital were conducted.

Chief District Officer Sitam Karki stressed the need to launch such programmes in every village to prepare people in the event of any disaster.