 |
| https://www.facebook.com/Emcon2013 |
EMCON 2013: The Untold Story of Rapid Action and Evacuation in the History of Medical Conferences
The year 2013 remains one of the most unforgettable milestones in my career. As the Chairman of the Organizing Committee and the President of SEMI Kerala, I was entrusted with the enormous responsibility of organizing EMCON 2013, India’s biggest Emergency Medicine Conclave, under the aegis of the Society for Emergency Medicine in India (SEMI). This was a daunting task, but I was fortunate to have an extraordinary and committed team by my side.
 |
| EMCON 2013 Leads |
Our core team included Dr. Zulfikar Ali, Dr. Fabith, Dr. Pradeep R, Dr.Sajith Kumar, Dr.Hafeez, Dr. Abeer, Dr. Jinesh V, Dr. Ramkumar, Dr. Rahna, Dr. Prem Sankar Pandyan, Dr Ramani Dharan,Dr.Nihar Lokur, Dr. Kabeer,Dr. Binu Kuriakose, Dr. Shafi Ijaz, Dr Samsekhar , Dr Botla ,Dr Jiju ,Dr. Alex, Dr. Renuka, Dr. Jasir VP, Dr. Yasser Chomayil, Dr. Firoz, Dr.Javad, Dr . Lajeesh , Dr . Obaid, Dr Shihana, Dr Faheez and many others. Our EMS team, led by Augustine, Binto Baby, and Jefsin, played a crucial role in the event’s success.
 |
| EMCON 13 campaign started in Delhi EMCON 2012, and DR.Jena was the first registrant for EMCON 2013 |
The SEMI National President, Dr. Tamorish Kole, and Immediate Past President (IPP), Dr. VP Chandrasekhar, entrusted me with this mission, and with the unwavering support from the SEMI National Board and past presidents, we ensured global participation. Dr. Narendra Jena served as the Vice Chairman of the program. The event was hosted at Vythiri Village, a newly constructed resort in Wayanad, Kerala, a stunning yet logistically challenging location, approximately 70 km from Calicut, the nearest metro city with an airport and railway connectivity. The event received generous support from Dr. Azad Moopen, Chairman of Aster DM Healthcare, ensuring financial stability and smooth execution.
 |
| EMCON 2013 Venue and access to Conference hall https://www.vythirivillage.com/ |
A Groundbreaking Medical Conference
EMCON 2013 was meticulously planned as a three-day conference, featuring 1,200 registered participants and 10 well-attended pre-conference workshops. However, the highlight of the event was the Road Show, a groundbreaking awareness initiative in the history of medical conferences. Spearheaded by Angels (Active Network Group of Emergency Life Savers) EMCT volunteers, the EMCT coordinator Munir MP and his team, along with Mr. Pradeep Hudino, the renowned magician, transformed this campaign into an unforgettable experience.
 |
| Statewide emergency medicine public awareness roadshow, which demonstrated life-saving skills and accident care skills in front of the lay public YouTube video of complete roadshow done in EMCON 2013 |
The roadshow commenced in Trivandrum and traveled across 14 districts, covering 102 locations, both rural and urban. Operating under the motto "Caring People, Bridging the Gap," this initiative generated widespread public awareness about Emergency Medicine, a specialty that was relatively unknown at the time. Looking back, I strongly believe that this campaign played a crucial role in shaping the future of emergency care in Kerala. Today, Kerala has the highest number of emergency physicians in the country, and its emergency care services surpass many other states in both quality and accessibility. However, the road to success was not without its challenges.
 |
| Padma Awardee, Father of Palliative care medicine in India Prof .MR Rajagopal delivering Key note address in EMCON 2013 |
Behind the grand success of EMCON 2013 lay a frightening and nerve-wracking crisis, a test of our skills as emergency medicine professionals and crisis managers.
The Crisis: A Sudden Harthal That Threatened Everything
Kerala has long been infamous for sudden Harthals (public strikes) that disrupt public transportation and daily life. These shutdowns, frequently called by opposition political parties, often escalate into violence, roadblocks, and destruction of property. Many of these protests are orchestrated by hooligans, resulting in injuries, hospitalizations, and even deaths due to lack of access to medical care.
 |
| Emcon 2013 Banners and flyers. The flyer caption for the Disaster management workshop was "Expect the unexpected! " . And incidentally, it came true |
Given Wayanad’s geographical isolation, accessible only via steep, winding roads with dangerous hairpin bends, our primary challenge was transporting international and national delegates from Calicut to the conference venue safely.
The Unexpected Disaster
Our conference was scheduled for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with most delegates and faculty arriving on Thursday and Friday. As we finalized our preparations at MIMS Hospital, a shocking TV flash news broke at 4 PM on Thursday—the release of the Madhav Gadgil Report on Western Ghats. The report emphasized environmental conservation, calling for stringent restrictions on activities harming the ecosystem.
https://scienceindiamag.in/madhav-gadgil-report-in-a-nutshell/
This triggered an immediate backlash. Opposition parties, including LDF and other political groups, declared a state-wide lightning strike and Harthal for Friday. Our worst fears had materialized overnight.
Assessing the Risks
With 1,200+ delegates, including 150 international faculty members, expected to travel to Wayanad overnight, we faced an imminent crisis:
- Political mobs were already blocking roads, setting fires, and throwing stones at vehicles.
- Police and political leaders were uncooperative, providing only vague responses.
- By 10 PM, reports confirmed that road violence had begun.
- Waiting until morning posed severe risks—delegates could be stranded, attacked, or completely unable to reach Wayanad.
This was an emergency within an emergency, and as Emergency Medicine professionals, we had to act with speed and precision—just as we do in disaster situations.
The Emergency Evacuation Plan
At 5 PM, I gathered my core team and made a decisive call:
"We are Emergency Medicine people. We manage disasters. This is a disaster. We have 3-5 hours to act. From now on, we are in disaster mode. Start transportation immediately!"
Our Action Plan:
-
Set Up a Safe Meeting Point:
- All delegates and faculty were instructed to assemble at Hotel Copper Folio on the bypass road in Calicut.
-
Mobilize Maximum Transport Options:
- 15 buses were arranged by Mr. Mubashir (Air Travels India) and Dr. Kabeer.
- 15-20 Angels ambulances were deployed as emergency transport vehicles.
-
Execute Rapid Evacuation:
- Transport began at 5 PM sharp—buses left as soon as they filled.
- By 9 PM, the last bus departed Calicut.
- Most buses cleared Wayanad’s hilly terrain before 11 PM.
- The last few vehicles faced minor troubles—some stone-pelting incidents occurred, and one driver was manhandled.
- Fortunately, all delegates and faculty were transported safely.
By 3 AM on Friday, the evacuation was complete. By 8:30 AM, EMCON 2013 started on schedule!
 |
| After the massive evacuation plan, we finished the final setup early in the morning at 3 am and checked the final arrangements and the functioning of the auditorium. The man with the Black shirt is Mr.Mubashir, who coordinated the transport system |
A Hard-Learned Lesson
EMCON 2013 was not just a conference—it was a test of resilience, teamwork, and emergency crisis management in real time. This experience reinforced the idea that Emergency Medicine is more than just hospital care; it’s about rapid decision-making, leadership, and executing complex operations under extreme uncertainty.
 |
| The entire conference was portrayed vividly by the Magazine Color Doppler |
However, this experience also left a lasting impression. That day, I made a solemn pledge:
"In the future, I will not take the lead in organizing an international event in Kerala—a state totally unpredictable in terms of Harthals."
Since 2016, Harthals have significantly reduced, primarily due to LDF’s governance, which has curtailed opposition-led strikes. However, the unpredictability of Kerala’s socio-political landscape remains a persistent concern.
 |
| The whole event was well-covered by the media |
Final Thoughts
EMCON 2013 was a landmark event in the history of Emergency Medicine in India. The Road Show, the awareness campaign, and the conference itself played a key role in transforming Kerala into a pioneering state for emergency care. However, the successful evacuation of 1,200+ delegates amidst a violent Harthal remains an untold story of teamwork, resilience, and strategic crisis management.
This incident reaffirmed a fundamental truth—
"Emergency Medicine is not just about treating patients. It's about being prepared for anything, anytime, anywhere."
 |
| www.docvenu.com |
