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Kumbh Mela to handle crowd with Incident Response System

The focus of the training conducted by Yashwantrao Chavan Academy of Development Administration (YASHADA) at the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences from May 18 to 20 was disaster management.

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Training was held by Yashwantrao Chavan Academy of Development Administration at the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Nashik
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Senior officials, including the divisional revenue commissioner, district collector, Nashik municipal commissioner, commissioner of police, and superintendent of police, completed a three-day training to deal, implement and manage the mega event of Kumbh Mela in Nashik.

The focus of the training conducted by Yashwantrao Chavan Academy of Development Administration (YASHADA) at the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences from May 18 to 20 was disaster management.

The training was solely for the Incident Response System (IRS) developed by YASHADA and which will be implemented for the first time in the world to manage an event.

Having planned thoroughly to deal with any kind of emergencies the administration has used principles of scientific management in doing so.

Col (R) Vishwas Supanekar, director at the disaster management training at YASHADA, has worked very keenly to adapt, develop and implement the IRS for the Kumbh Mela.

Speaking exclusively to dna, he said IRS comes from the Incident Command System (ICS) largely used in the US to manage disasters. It is a concept used in coordination by several agencies in a multi-hazard situation. The adaptations have been made to make it workable to our Indian situations, he added.

"In any disaster situation, a single response is not sufficient. Responses have to come from many agencies and they have to be coordinated efforts," Supanekar said.

There are five functions in ICS — command, operations, planning, administration and finance. While adapting ICS to its Indianised version, IRS Finance has been replaced with Logistics. "For Kumbh Mela, the first responding agencies belong to the government and as such finances would come under one big roof. We have added logistics because that is an important aspect which will involve delegation of authority and responsibility to all those involved in the system," the retired colonel said.

The IRS works with a unified command, where all commands are grouped together with a disaster. The structure is based on unity of command and chain of command. "This means that one person heads the tactical operation and then there are operational section chiefs handling their own responsibilities," he said.

In 2010, the National Disaster Management Authority had laid down guidelines for disaster response mechanism, which includes rescue and relief measures. The IRS incorporates these principles. "In the Indian context, not just rescue but relief also is an important aspect of disaster management," Supanekar said.

"Space constraints is an issue around the Ramkund area. We will need tactical handling of the crowd that is going to occupy the space. Geographical areas have been identified and divided and institutions have been earmarked to man those as well as handle the crowd. Hold and release is one mechanism that will be used. For this, holding areas have been recommended."

The IRS has also incorporated an effective communication channel. It includes information and media officer who will be responsible for smooth communication between agencies involved. Every task is specific and hence positional selections have been done on professional competencies.

Aspects of crowd psychology, crowd movement, density and direction, all have been considered in the IRS. "The moment the event starts, management has to begin and emphasis has to be on controlling the incidents. IRS also focuses on prevention, for which mitigation of risks has been done before the event to minimise the occurrences," said Supanekar.

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