Chennai: A man died allegedly after a mock drill by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) went wrong in Kerala's Pathanamthitta district on Thursday. The victim was identified as Binu Soman.
The drill was conducted by National Disaster Relief Force, Fire Force and Revenue Department.
According to a report on NDTV, Binu Soman (34) got stuck in the river mud and drowned in a river while participating in a mock drill. He was immediately rushed to a private hospital in Thiruvalla at 8 pm.
However, Soman died without responding to treatment.
On Thursday, Binu was selected along with three other locals to help the NDMA enact the mock drill for flood rescue operation.
During the enactment, the officials told the locals to stand on the other side of the river bank so that the rescue officers could come and save them by coming in a boat. However, Binu got trapped in the river mud and drowned even before the rescuers could help him.
Later, the NDMA members pulled him out after an operation for half an hour and rushed him to the hospital.
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Meanwhile, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan also expressed his condolence to the kin of the deceased man.
Earlier, the NDMA decided to organise a mock drill as part of the program held across the state. As a result, flood-risk mock drills were planned in Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Pathanamthitta, Kannur and Kasaragod districts. They also planned landslide-related mock drills in Palakkad, Kottayam and Wayanad districts.
On the other hand, the mock drills held at five places in Kollam district were widely smooth on Thursday. The drill was held in a joint operation by Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) and NDMA.