Simulated emergency drill at Kolkata airport tests firefighting and rescue preparedness
Times of India | 26 March 2025
123456 Kolkata: Two aircraft rescue and fire fighting (ARFF) vehicles were deployed, along with two ambulances, in the operational area of Kolkata airport on Tuesday afternoon to carry out a firefighting and rescue operation.
Airport director Pravat Ranjan Beuria said the hot fire drill involved agencies responding to a simulated fire scene similar to one that can occur during an aircraft crash and tested the airport's preparedness for the emergency.
"During the simulated emergency exercise, members of various agencies performed tasks that would be expected from them in a real emergency. The drill was meant to practice prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery capabilities of first responders to an emergency at the airport," said Beuria.
Altogether, 16 ARFF and nine CISF personnel participated in the drill.
"The drill is set to achieve the response time, which is 138 seconds from the initial call, as well as to control the fire within one minute. It is done by continuous and rigorous practice. These drills are crucial for airport fire departments to maintain and enhance their skills in responding to various emergency situations, including aircraft fires," explained an official.