Patients at receiving end at hospitals in tricity Chandigarh, February 13 The mock drill turned out to be an opportunity to take exemption from the work for a number of officials at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32 today causing grave inconvenience to patients inside. Patients wait for the mock drill to get over at the hospital in Phase VI, Mohali, on Wednesday. A Tribune photograph

COMMUNITY

mega Mock Drill
Element of panic missing
Chandigarh, February 13
An earthquake-threat mock exercise held at the Chandigarh domestic airport to check the level of preparedness of different agencies, appeared a mere formality as it lacked the sense of urgency and coordination among different agencies involved. Besides, the public was not made as a part of the drive, in any manner.

Employees missing from offices at P’kula Panchkula, February 13 Taking advantage of the mock drill, employees of various departments were found missing from their respective offices even after the mock drill concluded. Ranbeer Singh, another resident who had come from Maheshpur, Sector 4, said, “The mock drill may have been conducted to create awareness but we people are the real sufferers. No one is sitting in the office.”

No official present at the office of the Zila Parishad at Mini Secretariat in Panchkula on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Nitin Mittal

The delay was deliberate, says Mohali DC
Mohali, February 13
It took about 40 minutes for the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team to travel across just seven km in response to a distress call for rescuing four persons trapped in a production house filled by poisonous gas following a major Richter 8.5 magnitude earthquake. During the mock drill today, the response of the nation’s nodal disaster management agency was poor.

Injured ferried in CTU bus, faulty hooters mar exercise
Mohali, February 13
As many as 29 persons died, 71 sustained serious injuries and 55 persons minor injuries in the calamity that struck the region today at around 10.30 am. The above mentioned statistics are the result of the mega mock drill, which took place at 15 important sites of the town.

A mock drill under way at the forest department complex in Sector 68 in Mohali. Tribune photo: Vicky Gharu

Officials of the National Disaster Response force check the equipment at the Police training grounds of sector 17, Chandigarh on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

If disaster like this takes place, 56,000 people will die in tricity Chandigarh, February 13 God forbids if an earthquake of Richter 8 magnitude with its epicenter at Sundernagar town in Mandi District of Himachal Pradesh takes place, then 56,000 people would die in tricity. Immediate response: Students sit under benches to protect themselve at Government Model Senior Secondary School ,Sector 35, Chandigarh. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

Response time best at DT Mall, worst at railway station
Chandigarh, February 13
The mock drill exercise was conducted at 15 places in Chandigarh but initial inputs gathered by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reveal that in Chandigarh the mock response time was best at the DT Mall, IT Park, while things were not that good at the railway station and Sector 17 Plaza.

A successful exercise, says Panchkula Admn
Panchkula, February 13
The Panchkula Administration claimed that the mega mock drill was successful at all the 15 sites in Panchkula. Around 1,500 officers and personnel of various departments participated in the drill.

No ambulance at rly stn Chandigarh, February 13 The rescue team deputed at the Chandigarh railway station was not equipped with ambulance or had any medical assistance to attend to the injured personnel. No first-aid was given to the injured till a PCR vehicle and a CTU bus came after 13 minutes after the call was made by the team. Short-cut: Failing to find an ambulance officials take injured to hospital on a CTU bus from railway station in Chandigarh. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

A cake-walk at PU
Chandigarh, February 13
The unrealistic situation of an earthquake created at the Student Center in Panjab University turned out to be a cake-walk for the rescuers to evacuate the trapped volunteers.

Rescue team not well equipped Chandigarh, February 13 The drive at the Post Graduate Government College for Girls (GCG), Sector 42, appeared highly unrealistic. The rescue team simply entered the building and took out the injured. The police team takes the supposedly injured persons for medical help during the mock drill at the PG Government College, Sector 42, Chandigarh, on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Parvesh Chauhan

Mock drill, visibly unplanned
Chandigarh, February 13
The first step of the mega-mock exercise, at the Punjab Engineering College (PEC), was enough to prove the loopholes of the Chandigarh Administration in tackling any emergency, here.

Exercise causes loss to Panchkula shopkeepers
Panchkula, February 13
The mega mock drill incurred a loss to the main market of Sector 7, Panchkula, which is actually the biggest market in the city. According to the shopkeepers, they incurred a loss of around Rs 60,000, as the barricading was done by the police and the traffic was not allowed to enter between 9.30 am to 11.45 am, till the mock drill concluded.

Sheru, lone fully prepared participant
Chandigarh, February 13
It was seven-year old ‘Sheru’, a trained male Labrador dog that played a major role in the search and rescue operations in Sector 17 plaza, carried out by National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team.

All the rain of heaven may fall into the sea. Without love, not one drop could become a pearl … — Rumi
Making V-day the wedding day Chandigarh, February 13 There can be no perfect day to tie the knot other than the Valentine’s Day itself. Several couples from the city are set to walk down the aisle tomorrow on February 14, the day dedicated to lovers. Atul Nagar with his fiancée Ravideep Kaur and Tanya Mohan with Vivek Siwatch

In love with passion Chandigarh, February 13 Two photos of a city based photographer, Gundeep Inder Singh, has been selected for the international exhibition on Valentines Day theme at Easton, Pennsylvania, US. Gundeep Inder Singh; (R ) one of his photograph that was selected for the international exhibition on Valentines Day theme at Easton, Pennsylvania, US.

Nothing comes for free, not even love Chandigarh, February 13 City's love birds are splurging hefty amounts to make the Valentine's Day special for their partners. For Aarti Jain this valentine day will be a special one. Her husband, Rajnish Jain, has planned 14 surprise gifts, including a lavish romantic dinner to mark the 14th year of their togetherness. Rajnish Jain with his wife Aarti Jain

CRIME

Patwari arrested while taking Rs 50,000 as bribe
Chandigarh, February 13
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today arrested a patwari, posted at the building branch of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, while accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000 for submitting site verification report for getting an NOC issued for transfer of ownership of a house.

14-year-old girl kidnapped
Panchkula, February 13
A a 14-year-old girl was kidnapped by two youths near Sector 4, Panchkula, when she was coming back from work. The victim hails from Peer Mushala and had come for work at Sector 4 when she was kidnapped.

Witness turns hostile in PS Sandhu's case
Chandigarh, February 13
In a setback to the CBI in a case against Punjab AIG PS Sandhu, a witness in the case turned hostile in court today. Kanwaljeet Singh, the driver of accused, Sandhu, told the court that his mobile was never used to make any call for bribe.