Buxar: The Earthquake Safety Fortnight organised by Govt Engineering College (GEC) in collaboration with the Bihar State Disaster Management Authority (BSDMA) from Jan 15 to 29 concluded on Thursday, with an SDRF mock drill by the Bhojpur team, providing students hands-on training in disaster response. The session also included explanations on the scientific causes of earthquakes and key safety measures to follow before, during and after tremors.Organised by the civil engineering department of the college, the event was coordinated by HoD Jeevesh Ujjwal, with assistant professor Annapurna Verma as co-coordinator. Faculty, staff and students participated actively, making the programme a success.Addressing the programme, GEC principal Ramnaresh Rai stressed the need for constant alertness and adoption of safety measures against natural disasters. He said such initiatives help build disaster management skills, social responsibility and a strong culture of safety among students.As part of the safety fortnight, students took part in painting, quiz and speech competitions on earthquake preparedness. Sona Rama, a second-year student, won the painting competition, while Devang Kumar, a third-year student, secured the top position in the quiz.An online expert lecture was delivered by Alok Kumar, associate professor in the department of Geology at Banaras Hindu University (BHU). Highlighting Bihar’s vulnerability, he said, “Bihar falls in a high seismic zone due to active tectonic movements in the Himalayan region. Awareness, safe construction practices and timely response can significantly reduce loss of life during earthquakes.”
