Hyderabad: In a coordinated show of emergency readiness, a large-scale fire drill was conducted at the TG ICCC building in Banjara Hills on Monday under the supervision of TG ICCC Director V.B. Kamalasan Reddy, IPS (Retd.).
The exercise brought together personnel from the Fire Department, Health Department, Municipal authorities, Hyderabad NDRF, Roads and Buildings, Electricity Department, 108 Ambulance Services, Water Works, and the city’s police wings including Traffic, Law and Order.
The drill aimed to demonstrate how employees could be safely evacuated during an emergency and how they could protect themselves if trapped inside the building.
Addressing the participants, Director Kamalasan Reddy highlighted the unique challenges posed by the building’s height at 83.26 metres and urged that efforts should first focus on containing the fire before it could spread. “Our building is equipped with all necessary fire safety systems. Staff must know how to use them properly in an emergency,” he said. He explained that every floor has a designated Fire Marshal and an Assistant, trained to keep track of employees and guide them in case of evacuation. “If a Fire Marshal is unavailable, a standby team will be alerted,” he added.
Reddy also announced that mock drills would now be held on the first Saturday of every month to reinforce preparedness.
Hyderabad City Police Commissioner C.V. Anand, IPS, who oversaw the drill, stressed the importance of regular fire drills in multi-storey buildings. “Employees and residents must be familiar with the building layout, emergency exits, fire alarms, and safety equipment,” he said. He noted that the TG ICCC building’s central location within its 7.5-acre site allows fire engines and ambulances to reach the site quickly during emergencies.
Commissioner Anand cautioned against complacency, reminding everyone that fires should never be underestimated. With around 2,000 employees working in the building, he advised that lifts must not be used during emergencies and that both stairwells in each tower should be used for evacuation. “We have designed this building as a Multi-Agency Operations Centre. These drills are crucial to ensure everyone knows how to respond during a crisis,” he said.
The drill began with the sound of a fire alarm, prompting everyone inside to move out calmly, without any pushing or panic. When smoke simulation was introduced, participants practiced bending low or crawling to avoid inhaling fumes, following instructions that cleaner air is usually found near the ground. Once outside, staff gathered at a designated safe area, where headcounts were taken. Fire officials shared advice on maintaining safety systems and regularly training staff to handle such incidents.
Additional dignitaries at the event included Vikram Singh Mann, IPS, Additional CP Law and Order; K. Apoorva Rao, IPS, DCP Special Branch; Pushpa, DCP TG ICCC; Damodar Singh from NDRF; Venkanna, District Fire Officer; and other senior officials.