Kalamassery explosion: Evacuation mock drill helped in preventing a major tragedy

Kochi: It is now known if an evacuation mock drill was conducted for the participants who attended the Jehovah’s Witnesses meeting held at the Zamra International Convention Centre in Kalamassery. However, this has surely helped in reducing the death toll during the explosions that occurred inside the convention centre. The eye witnesses of the incidents have testified to the fact as well. 

Mathrubhumi Editor Manoj K Das, one of the first journalists to reach the spot after the explosions, said: “The organisers of the event had given clear instructions to the Jehovah’s Witnesses on how to act incase of panic/emergency situations. The mock drill has definitely helped in avoiding stampede, otherwise the incident would have been even more gross.”

A triple explosion during a religious gathering in Kerala has not happenned before. The initial explosion occurred at the front of the auditorium, followed by subsequent explosions at the rear. Manoj K Das described the scene, stating, "the hall was shrouded in dense, dark smoke."

“I came to know that the organisers had conducted a mock drill for the participants earlier, something similar to the drills in flights. As a result, the devotees had a rather clear idea of where the exit points were. Now this has definitely helped in evading a stampede in the chaos that followed. Otherwise, we would have been dealing with a disaster of a greater magnitude. I think, the decision to conduct a mock drill was wise enough,” said the Mathrubhumi Editor.