HMI to launch emergency response number & app

Apart from our core activity, the institute is always voluntarily ready to serve for the nation during any catastrophe, be it a major fire, earthquake or flood.

Amitava Banerjee | MP | 20 OCTOBER | Darjeeling: The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI,) Darjeeling has plans to launch an emergency response number and an App which will consist a directory of trained volunteers who will help during any crisis including natural calamities, disasters and pandemics, pan India. This service will be flagged off with a WhatsApp group on November 4, 2020, on the occasion of the 66th raising day of the institute. 

"Disasters are part of the environment in which we live. Disasters are complex events and the problem of disaster prevention and mitigation has many facets. The success of preparedness and response measures against natural calamities and man-made disasters are largely dependent on the training imparted to the rescuers, public support and most importantly reaction time by the search and rescue teams," stated Group Captain Jai Kishan, Principal, HMI. 

HMI is an institute of international repute and has trained thousands of people from across the globe in the field of mountaineering. 

"Apart from our core activity, the institute is always voluntarily ready to serve for the nation during any catastrophe, be it a major fire, earthquake or flood," stated the Principal. 

Acting on these lines, the HMI has already imparted training at a local level. 48 youths of Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, Darjeeling, successfully completed a basic survival and disaster response course recently. 

The training included rope knots practice; coiling practice; harness fitting; improvise harness making; rope stretcher making; rope ladder making; anchor base; belay practice; basic rock climbing; rappelling practice; jumar climbing; Valdotain climbing; first aid; C-pulley and Z-pulley System; navigation (map reading and GPS;) survival techniques; fire Extinguishing methods, Suspension traverse and Tyrolean traverse; Heli Rescue; weather and cloud; panel and signaling; team management; safety test and first aid. 

"The training also included rescue techniques conducted on the steep slopes of Tenzing Rock and the climbing area of HMI. Here they learned about casualty evacuation and response. Training was provided free of cost," added the HMI Principal. The 48 have taken a pledge to serve the nation during any such emergencies. 

HMI was founded on 4th November 1954 - a result of personal initiative of Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru the first Prime Minister of India and Dr. BC Roy the then Chief Minister of West Bengal to promote mountaineering in India. 

(Courtesy & source- http://www.millenniumpost.in/kolkata/hmi-to-launch-emergency-response-number-app-421681)