Dharamshala, April 4 – More than 15,000 students and staff members of 24 different Schools across Northern Indian states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Delhi participated in a simultaneous drill known as “The Tibetan Schools Shake-Out Drill”. This perhaps is the largest earthquake drill in India, and according to some School Principals, a success that should be practiced regularly. The event was organized to mark the 104th anniversary of the 1905 Kangra earthquake and to create a safe learning environment for school children.
At the drill at upper TCV School, Geshe Lhakdor la (Director, Library of Tibetan Works and Archives) and Tibetan Welfare Officer of Dharamshala were present to observe the event. Besides, members of the TCV school administration were also present to witness the drill.
When the drum started to beat at 10AM, all the students of Upper TCV School practiced drop, cover and hold on under their desk. A minute later, when the drum-roll stopped, class teachers stood outside the door and evacuated the students in a systematic manner to avoid any rush or disorder. All the students started out from their classrooms covering their heads with their hands and gathered at the School ground, where class teachers checked if all had been safely evacuated.
“If we are prepared, it gives you an automatic sense of calmness. So practicing earthquake drills is extremely important, as there will be less panic, fear and anxiety. Hence, lesser casualties in actual quake situation.” said Yangzom, a student of the senior section of the school.
At one side of the football ground, a medical post was set up where “injured” victims, some wearing gory make-up, were given treatment while those with “major injuries” were driven to the nearest hospital.
At TCV Chauntra, the earthquake safety drill was conducted twice. Almost half an hour after the first scheduled drill the school organized a surprise drill to test the level of preparedness in the school.
Various Disaster Response Teams formed at CST Paonta School including search and rescue Team, Medical Team and Fire safety team also performed their respective roles.
This drill was a collaborative effort of GeoHazards International, GeoHazards Society, and the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives (LTWA), in conjunction with Tibetan schools under Central Tibetan School Administration, Sambhota Tibetan School Administration and Tibetan Children’s Village.
“The purpose of the Tibetan Schools Shake-Out Drill is to help all Tibetan Schools to prepare for earthquakes and to prevent natural disasters from becoming catastrophes in terms of death and suffering. Such drill needs be conducted in every Tibetan school at regular basis” said Tsering Dhundup, coordinator of the Tibetan Schools Shake-Out Drill
Many parts of North and North-east India are among the most earthquake-prone regions in the world. The last major earthquake to strike Himachal Pradesh was in April 26, 1986, when a magnitude 5.7 strike left at least 6 people dead. The great Kangra earthquake of 1905 was 7.8 Magnitude and caused some 19,800 deaths and collapse of approximately 100,000 buildings.
