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Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Medical students learn handling cases caused by CBRNE tragedies
Pune: Students of Govt Medical College, Alibaug, attended a first-of-its-kind training programme on handling mass casualties and injuries caused by CBRNE (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive) tragedies. The content for the two-day workshop was developed by the college under the mentorship of Colonel Santosh K Singh, professor of medicine, Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune, and national coordinator for CBRNE management training. Dr Deodatt Suryawanshi, assistant professor, GMC, said although this is not part of the syllabus, they wanted to make sure that MBBS students are prepared for any untoward incident. "Be it a war or the recent chemical factory blast in Telangana, CBRNE training is a must for doctors. However, at present, it is restricted to specialised personnel in the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the armed forces. Such training is not frequent for medical students, despite their potential frontline role in emergencies, especially in peripheral and rural healthcare systems," he said. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune At the programme held on July 1 and 2 on RCF Campus, Alibaug, the students were taught the START (simple triage and rapid treatment) method, colour coding for casualties using triage tags to determine severity, assessing respiration rate, checking radial pulse or capillary refill, evaluating mental status using commands, high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) following AHA guidelines, and use of automated external defibrillator. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like local network access control Esseps Learn More Undo by Taboola by Taboola They also practised chest compressions (rate, depth, recoil), rescue breathing, hot zone to cold zone transition (zoning in CBRNE), use of PPE suits for first responders, shower decontamination (dry/wet simulated), safe handling of contaminated material, proper donning and doffing of PPE, use of decontamination stretchers and tents (simulated), and tagging post-decontamination for further triage. Dr Purwa Patil, dean of GMC, said there is an urgent need for disaster preparedness and skill-based medical training in the wake of increasing manmade and natural emergencies. "As many as 105 of our MBBS students actively participated in rigorous simulation-based training that covered triage and victim prioritisation in field conditions, standardised decontamination protocols for hazardous exposure, casualty evacuation and scene safety procedures, and CPR and emergency resuscitation in disaster contexts," she said. Dr Devannad Pawar, associate professor, anaesthesia, GMC, conducted hands-on training in basic life support and CPR — foundational skills for all medical first responders. "Medical students are expected to respond effectively to mass casualty situations, yet most lack structured exposure to high-risk disaster scenarios involving hazardous materials. This workshop addressed that gap by introducing them to the essential knowledge and skills for CBRNE casualty management," he said. Such training will help produce a generation of disaster-ready, system-aware, and clinically competent doctors, prepared to protect public health and safety in times of crisis, Dr Patil said. The workshop was organised by the department of community medicine and the medical education unit of GMC, in collaboration with the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Raigad. The training was conducted by Sagar Pathak, head of DDMA, senior PI Jalinder Funde of NDRF, M K Mhatre, retired assistant deputy controller, Civil Defence, and Dr (Colonel) V N Supenekar, consultant in hospital disaster management, YASHADA. Pune: Students of Govt Medical College, Alibaug, attended a first-of-its-kind training programme on handling mass casualties and injuries caused by CBRNE (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive) tragedies. The content for the two-day workshop was developed by the college under the mentorship of Colonel Santosh K Singh, professor of medicine, Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune, and national coordinator for CBRNE management training. Dr Deodatt Suryawanshi, assistant professor, GMC, said although this is not part of the syllabus, they wanted to make sure that MBBS students are prepared for any untoward incident. "Be it a war or the recent chemical factory blast in Telangana, CBRNE training is a must for doctors. However, at present, it is restricted to specialised personnel in the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the armed forces. Such training is not frequent for medical students, despite their potential frontline role in emergencies, especially in peripheral and rural healthcare systems," he said. At the programme held on July 1 and 2 on RCF Campus, Alibaug, the students were taught the START (simple triage and rapid treatment) method, colour coding for casualties using triage tags to determine severity, assessing respiration rate, checking radial pulse or capillary refill, evaluating mental status using commands, high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) following AHA guidelines, and use of automated external defibrillator. They also practised chest compressions (rate, depth, recoil), rescue breathing, hot zone to cold zone transition (zoning in CBRNE), use of PPE suits for first responders, shower decontamination (dry/wet simulated), safe handling of contaminated material, proper donning and doffing of PPE, use of decontamination stretchers and tents (simulated), and tagging post-decontamination for further triage. Dr Purwa Patil, dean of GMC, said there is an urgent need for disaster preparedness and skill-based medical training in the wake of increasing manmade and natural emergencies. "As many as 105 of our MBBS students actively participated in rigorous simulation-based training that covered triage and victim prioritisation in field conditions, standardised decontamination protocols for hazardous exposure, casualty evacuation and scene safety procedures, and CPR and emergency resuscitation in disaster contexts," she said. Dr Devannad Pawar, associate professor, anaesthesia, GMC, conducted hands-on training in basic life support and CPR — foundational skills for all medical first responders. "Medical students are expected to respond effectively to mass casualty situations, yet most lack structured exposure to high-risk disaster scenarios involving hazardous materials. This workshop addressed that gap by introducing them to the essential knowledge and skills for CBRNE casualty management," he said. Such training will help produce a generation of disaster-ready, system-aware, and clinically competent doctors, prepared to protect public health and safety in times of crisis, Dr Patil said. The workshop was organised by the department of community medicine and the medical education unit of GMC, in collaboration with the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Raigad. The training was conducted by Sagar Pathak, head of DDMA, senior PI Jalinder Funde of NDRF, M K Mhatre, retired assistant deputy controller, Civil Defence, and Dr (Colonel) V N Supenekar, consultant in hospital disaster management, YASHADA.
Indian Express
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Punjab deras: A safe refuge for many
In The Deras: Culture, Diversity and Politics, Santosh K Singh presents years of ethnographic research into one of Punjab's most distinctive, yet misunderstood, socio-religious phenomena: the Deras. Singh tells The Indian Express explains what drew him to the subject, what sets these spaces apart from others, and how they have come to play a vital role in the socio-political fabric of Punjab. What inspired you to explore the Deras of Punjab as your area of research? The book, Singh says, wasn't planned. During an earlier project on agrarian change in Punjab, he noticed many labourers on a farm in Patiala wearing steel lockets—symbols of affiliation with a particular Dera. Most of these workers were from poor, subaltern backgrounds. 'The idea germinated there, in a purely serendipitous moment,' he says. What began as casual observation grew into a deeper engagement. Singh found the world of Deras to be complex, multilayered and exciting, especially as someone interested in the intersection of culture and religion in its lived context. What sets Punjab's Deras apart from other religious spaces in India? According to Singh, Punjab's Deras follow the quintessential South Asian tradition of philosophical dissent—where breakaways from dominant religions form new spiritual paths. 'Broad brushing that happened around Deras undermined their rich history,' he says. While certain controversial Deras often attract media attention, Singh argues that these few should not define the whole spectrum. Importantly, while many Deras have a large Dalit following, they cannot be simplistically labelled as Dalit institutions. 'There are both Dalit and non-Dalit Deras if we were to invoke Dalit as a political category,' he adds. Why do Deras draw such large followings? Singh points to historical and sociological factors. Deras like Dera Sacha Khand Ballan have become epicentres of Dalit Ravidassia identity. Despite Sikhism's egalitarian ideals, caste has found its way into Punjab's religious and social life. Many Dalits, hoping for equality in a caste-neutral space, found themselves alienated and turned to Deras instead. These spiritual spaces offered not only solace but a renewed sense of identity and community rooted in equality. What role do Deras play in Punjab's political landscape? With Scheduled Castes forming 32% of Punjab's population—the highest in India—Deras are seen as significant vote banks. 'Political parties understandably warm up to them,' Singh says. However, despite assumptions about their electoral sway, there is no conclusive research linking Deras directly to election outcomes. 'These Dalit Deras are themselves fragmented along various lines,' he explains. Nevertheless, their perceived influence has led to the creation of political capital around them. Has the rise of Christianity affected the reach of Deras, especially among the poor and lower castes? This is an emerging trend, Singh notes, but it wasn't the focus of his research. Anecdotally, he believes many new Christian converts in Punjab are recent migrants from states like Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh. Whether this has affected Dera followings significantly is not yet clear. Were there moments during your research that changed your perspective? One unexpected insight was the networked nature of the Deras. Singh realised that most academic work on Punjab Deras remains Punjab-centric, failing to map their national and international links. The Ravidassia Deras, for example, have strong connections to Varanasi—Guru Ravidas's birthplace. Singh also discovered significant overseas involvement: NRIs from Dalit backgrounds in countries like Italy, Germany, Canada and the US now fund many of these institutions. Their donations, he says, are a way of honouring their cultural and spiritual roots. How long did your research take, and what were some of the challenges? Singh describes the research process as 'many years of wandering.' The fluid and constantly evolving nature of the terrain meant he never felt a sense of finality. One key challenge was navigating the complexity of Dera networks and gaining the trust of their followers. He also emphasises the importance of understanding Deras in a broader framework. 'Punjab Deras must not be understood as standalone entities,' he says, pointing to the Sachkhand Ballan Dera's pilgrimage centre in Seer Govardhanpur, Varanasi, built at what is believed to be the birthplace of 15th-century Bhakti poet-saint Guru Ravidas. What do you hope readers take away from the book? 'I hope the book communicates the multilayered, diverse setting of the Deras,' Singh says. His intent is to move past monolithic representations and highlight the local and global interconnections that sustain these spaces. While the book invites academic engagement, Singh stresses that it is also written for the everyday reader, someone curious about the evolving intersections of caste, faith and community in contemporary India.
