You cannot stop a natural disaster, but can surely mitigate its impact and avoid casualty by taking precautions.

A group of 30 students of National Service Scheme (NSS) and National Cadet Corps (NCC) from colleges under Kolhan University is learning this and more at an eight-day workshop that kicked off on Friday.

Red Cross Society is imparting the training on the nitty-gritty of disaster management at Red Cross Bhavan, Sakchi. Dhalbhum subdivisional officer (SDO) Alok Kumar, chief guest on the occasion, inaugurated the workshop while Rakesh Joshi, senior manager, fire technology, Tata Steel, was the guest of honour.

According to Red Cross Society members, who are training the students, such a session was being organised only in Jamshedpur after New Delhi.

"Natural disaster can take place anytime. Therefore, it is always good to know what exactly you should do during such emergencies to save yourself and others as well," SDO Kumar said on the occasion.

The 30 students, drawn from across the constituent colleges of Kolhan University, make up the first batch under the programme to undergo the training and become master trainers. Once the session is over, they will go back to college and pass on the tips, technicalities and precautionary measures that they have learnt to the students there.

The training topics include natural disasters like tsunami, earthquake, floods and drought besides regular exigencies like fires, industrial accidents etc.

Practical demonstrations and industrial visits are also a part of the curriculum.

"We try to train students in every aspect of disaster management. The idea is to create a pool of people who know how to cope with disasters and thus, lessen the volume of casualty," said Bijay Singh, secretary, Red Cross Society, Jamshedpur.