Training key in disaster relief: Expert

Hyderabad:“Disaster relief drills must mimic real-life conditions, like darkness and smoke. During a fire, things won’t be easy. Training people to respond effectively under pressure is crucial,” said Mr. Shingo Kawamura, former commissioner of fire and disaster management services, Japan, addressing a gathering at Na Ra JAPAN HUB at Kondapur.

Explaining the objective of the event, Rama Bhadra, founder of the HUB, said, “I lived in Japan for 18 years. My house collapsed during the 1995 earthquake. I saw the Japanese resilience and disaster response system up close. I realised the importance of sharing this knowledge.”

In his keynote address, Kawamura shared examples from Japan, where regular fire drills are mandatory and industries collaborate with fire departments to conduct these exercises twice a year. “In Japan, the safety of workers is our priority, so we are slower but safer. In America, the approach is faster but riskier,” he noted.

Chief guest Y. Nagi Reddy, director general of Telangana disaster response and fire services, said, “Japan is more prone to natural disasters, while Hyderabad is relatively safer, falling in zone 3 for earthquakes. However, we deal with floods, building collapses, and fire incidents—98-99 per cent of which occur in non-high-rise buildings where regulations are not imposed.”

Another speaker Dr S.K. Jayachandra, former IPS officer, stressed the need for India to rethink its approach to disaster preparedness. “We are least prepared to meet any calamity. Training is extremely important in disaster management,” he said..