PCMC training citizens, NGOs in disaster management during floods

PCMC Flood Pimpri Chinchwad disaster
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Pimpri, 22 July 2020: The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) in a major step towards mitigating future disasters has begun training its staffers, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) persons and interested citizens in boat riding skills, saving drowning persons during a flood, how to operate drones and other disaster management techniques to ensure that the civic body is better prepared to tackle the crisis. The initiative is especially focussed on floods as the township was badly hit by floods during monsoon last year.

The training is being imparted to them under the directions of PCMC fire department chief Kiran Gawade and Disaster Management Department Chief Omprakash Bahiwal under the direct supervision of Additional Commissioner (II) Ajit Pawar. According to the information provided by the fire department, Mula river flows around 11 kms, Pavana for 25 kms and Indrayani flows for 20.60 kms within the jurisdiction of PCMC area making it imperative for citizens and administration to brace themselves for tackling disaster like situation due to floods like last year.

According to disaster management, both Pavana and Mula rivers get flooded during monsoon and due to the strong current of river water, the areas comprising residential societies and tenements get affected. The present step to train the citizens of the area and other social workers in the art of saving lives and protecting home and hearth is aimed at facing sudden floods due to overflowing rivers, especially during monsoon.

The disaster management officials said that there are currently 13 flood-prone spots located from old Sangvi to Ravet where groups of 25 trained citizens will be deployed to tackle eventuality during heavy rains.

“We are training the citizen volunteers in boat riding, artificial resuscitation of drowned persons, saving lives of drowning persons, how to wear life jackets, how to carry out the rescue of old and the kids including the safety and precautions needed during the times of crisis”, Baniwal said.

PCMC Commissioner Shravan Hardikar said that training was aimed at empowering the citizens to become saviours of the lives of the people in a disaster like situation be it floods, rains or any other natural calamities.

PCMC Fire Chief Kiran Gawade said, “We received a good response and they were mostly concerned with NGO and also citizens. We aim at making it long term and permanent activity which will bring in the desired results. It is the first time that water rescue training has been imparted.”

pcmc flood pimpri