Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, May 6
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has ordered to conduct mock drills in 244 districts on Wednesday to assess effective civil defence.
The development came as security has been tightened in the country following the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam. The exercise aims at training civilians in protective civil defence protocols by implementing crash blackout procedures and camouflaging critical infrastructure.
According to defence experts, this is the first exercise of its kind since 1971, when India and Pakistan were at war. A mock drill is a practice operation designed to simulate an emergency, allowing people to rehearse their responses in a controlled and safe environment. The aim is to help the public better understand their responsibilities and actions in the event of a real emergency.
The author recalled that for Patna, mock drills and sirens are not new. Town had also underground bunkers readied in 1962 at Patna City. “I was a student of Patna College in 1971 when India was attacked by Pakistan. R N Das, an Oriya native was district magistrate. As DM he was controller of Civil Defence Organisation and was responsible for emergency operations to be performed through the Civil Defence Wardens Rai Vinay Krishna and Ram Ji Mishra Manohar, his deputy,” the author recalled.
Sirens were installed at Bankipore Girls High School, Golghar, Darbhanga House, Gulzarbag, Bihari mills, he added. In the evening there used to be total blackout for many hours. People did not use even lanterns. All shops were expected to be shut during night. “We used to hear sounds of planes taking off from neighbouring Bihta IAF air base in the district,” the author said.
During the drill, security forces might simulate a war-like situation, and some areas could experience temporary power outages or communication disruptions. It may also include activities such as evacuating buildings, providing first-aid, or following lockdown protocols.
What will happen during the mock drill?
* The drill aims to assess effectiveness of air raid sirens in alerting people about threats.
* It aims to train civilians to respond quickly during hostile attacks through basic civil defence techniques.
* It will test the hotline/radio communication links of civil authorities with the IAF.
* It will test performance of control rooms and shadow rooms during emergencies.
* The drill will include crash blackout exercises to simulate war-like conditions.
* The preparedness of rescue teams and firefighters will be tested. Evacuation plans will also be rehearsed to move people from danger zones to safer areas.
* Civilians will be trained to provide basic first-aid, handling firefighting equipment, etc.
Following are some things to remember during the mock drill scheduled on Wednesday:
* Avoid restricted areas cordoned off for the exercise.
* Keep a basic emergency kit handy which includes essentials such as water, a flashlight, and basic medical supplies.
* Pay attention only to official announcements on the internet, radio, or television.
* The most important thing is to stay calm. Even if sirens sound or blackout measures are implemented, do not panic.
* Follow instructions given by police, civil defence personnel, or volunteers during the drill.
Planned across several districts, these drills will help in ensuring preparedness during a real emergency. The authorities will then be able to review the problems encountered by civilians in such situations and make possible improvements.
