GUWAHATI, Sept 15 - Stampede, fire, terrorist attacks, etc., have been identified as some of the major threats faced by the hospitality and entertainment industries and shopping malls. Besides, since Assam falls in Zone V in the seismic map of India, its vulnerability to earthquakes also cannot be ruled out.
Keeping these threats in view, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) has chalked out a plan to sensitise the managements of hotels, cinema halls and shopping malls so that they can make adequate preparations to deal with any such eventuality.
ASDMA�s State Project Coordinator RP Baruah told The Assam Tribune that earlier efforts were made to sensitise the managements of educational institutions and hospitals on the risks and preparedness, but for the first time, an effort has been made to create awareness among the managements of the hospitality and entertainment industries as well as the shopping malls.
He said in this connection a daylong seminar would be held at the Assam Administrative Staff College on September 19, where the managements of these industries would be educated on the possible hazards of disasters.
Apart from senior officers of the State government, experts from other parts of the country have been invited to talk on the related issues. N Vinod Chandra Menon, founder member of the National Disaster Management Authority, will talk on safety in public places.
Consultant of the National Disaster Management Authority Brig Kuldip Singh will deliberate on principles of mock exercises and incident response system, while chief of Mumbai Fire Services Prabhat Rahangdale will deliberate on search and rescue in collapsed structures. City Police Commissioner HC Nath will talk about safety and security.
Officers of the National Disaster Response Force will train the owners of hotels, cinema halls and shopping malls in evacuation and mock drills.
Meanwhile, official sources pointed out that if a fire breaks out in a hotel, cinema hall or shopping mall, the owner should have adequate preparation in place to evacuate the people safely and ensure that no stampede takes place. Same is the situation in case of an earthquake and for such evacuation, the owners should be properly trained and they should have an action plan ready for such situations.
Sources pointed out that the hospitality industry became a soft target in different parts of India and abroad and the attack on the Taj Hotel in Mumbai taught a hard lesson to India.
The Kamrup (M) district administration and State Fire and Emergency Services carry out surveys of the hotels, cinema halls and shopping malls to check whether the safety norms are being followed. Notices were issued to the owners of such buildings and some have already taken measures suggested to them.
