Karwar: A mock drill conducted on Thursday to assess preparedness for a possible radiation leak at the Kaiga Nuclear Power Plant was successfully completed, according to Uttara Kannada Deputy Commissioner (DC) Lakshmi Priya. She said all stages of the emergency-response procedure were carried out effectively. The drill was initiated based on an emergency fax and email received at 6:30 am from the Kaiga Site Emergency Director, following which a simulated radiation-leak scenario was created. Villages in Zone L — Hartuga, Golle and Nagekove — and in Zone M — Koochigar, Shirve, Kerawadi and Devalmakki — were identified as affected areas for the exercise.
Soon after the alert, a meeting was convened at 6:45 am under the chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioner, directing all departments to take immediate action. The District Emergency Operations Centre was activated. Following the receipt of the PAR-1 report at 7 am, police erected barricades on all approach roads to the identified villages and restricted vehicle movement. Panchayat and revenue staff conveyed precautionary instructions to local residents.
The administration clarified that the simulated radiation level was minimal and posed no significant threat to the public, yet all precautionary measures were implemented as part of the drill. People were advised not to believe rumours on social media and to rely only on official announcements issued by the administration.
The Health Department distributed ITB tablets in the affected villages, while anganwadi centres, schools and colleges were ordered to remain closed until further notice. Residents were advised not to consume locally prepared food or water. The administration supplied food packets and drinking-water bottles sourced from outside the affected zones. The RTO and KSRTC arranged special vehicles for transportation and support.
Residents of Hartuga village were relocated to the Kumbaarawada community hall in Joida taluk, while cattle were also shifted to safe locations. In other villages covered under the mock radiation spread, the Health Department carried out screening of residents and instructed them to avoid unnecessary travel and not to consume locally made food or water. During the evacuation, people, livestock and vehicles exiting the zone were fully decontaminated, and the water and equipment used for decontamination were safely disposed of as per protocol.
At 2:10 pm, the Kaiga Site Director and the district administration announced that the simulated radiation spread had been fully contained and that there were no harmful levels present in the environment. Residents were assured that they could continue their routine activities without fear.
The mock drill saw participation from Zilla Panchayat CEO Dr. Dilish Shashi, District Superintendent of Police Deepan M.N., DFO Ravishankar, Additional Deputy Commissioner Sajid Mulla, Assistant Commissioner Shravan Kumar, IAS trainee officer Zufishan Haq, personnel from NDRF, Coast Guard, CISF, Police, Fire and Emergency Services, Home Guards, Revenue, Health and other district-level departments. A separate forest-fire drill was also conducted successfully by the Forest Department in the Virje forest area.