A successful drill to simulate safe evacuation of building occupants in case of emergency was conducted by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) at the Jinnah International Airport (JIA) here on Thursday morning. The idea behind the exercise was to:
-- Check the response of occupants/functionaries while evacuating building in case of emergency.
-- Check the response action of airport fire and medical services in case of emergency in the terminal building.
-- The serviceability of fire detection and alarm system and installed fire fighting system at Jinnah Terminal Complex (JTC).
A mock scenario was created to depict explosion of a bomb in an office at level four. As a result, huge fire started inside the room with heavy smoke all around level four. One emergency/staircase was blocked due to heavy smoke and six casualties reported, including one dead.
A call was received at Airport Facilities Control and Monitoring (AFCM) from level four that an explosion has occurred there. All occupants of level four on hearing alarm/sounder evacuated their rooms/offices and assembled at level one concourse hall by following the escape route.
The AFCM shift incharge immediately sounded the emergency alarm to evacuate the floor and proceeded to the troubled area along with his team.
The agencies working at the terminal, which participated in the drill, included bomb disposal squad, Airport Security Force, CAA terminal managers and flight inquiry.