Bhubaneswar,(Orissa Today) Mar 5: Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest aluminium producer, conducted a large-scale mock drill on offsite emergency preparedness at its Jharsuguda plant. The exercise was part of a statewide initiative held across 23 districts of Odisha to enhance safety measures related to hazardous chemicals.
The drill aimed to assess emergency response mechanisms, coordination among agencies, and workforce preparedness in handling chemical disasters. Employees, security personnel, and local authorities actively participated in executing evacuation protocols, containment measures, and first-aid support.
The exercise was conducted in collaboration with the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA), the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), fire services, and the district administration. Mutual aid partners from various industries also contributed, ensuring a well-coordinated emergency management approach.
Several key officials attended the event, including Sabyasachi Panda, Sub-Collector of Jharsuguda; Chandramani Swain, Additional District Magistrate; Susanta Mishra, District Project Officer, OSDMA; Archana Das, Assistant Director of Factories & Boilers; Abhijeet Sahu, Inspector, NDRF; Rajendra Saila, Inspector In-Charge, Badmal; Anushka Ekka, Deputy Environment Scientist; and A.K. Topno, Assistant Fire Officer, Jharsuguda. Vedanta’s senior management was also present.
Speaking at the event, Sunil Gupta, Chief Operating Officer, Vedanta Aluminium, emphasized the company’s commitment to safety. “Safety is at the core of Vedanta’s operations. This drill strengthens our preparedness and reinforces collaboration with local authorities and stakeholders to ensure a secure environment,” he said.
Sabyasachi Panda, Sub-Collector of Jharsuguda, highlighted the importance of such exercises, stating, “Emergency preparedness is crucial for industrial hubs like Jharsuguda. This mock drill demonstrated excellent coordination between industry and administration, contributing to a safer environment.”
