'Participation Of District Authorities, NCC Cadets, Students': Here's What Will Happen In Civil Defence Mock Drill

A civil defence security exercise is set to be held tomorrow (7 May) across the country's 244 Civil Defence districts, as per the Ministry of Home Affairs notification to the states, NDTV reported.

While the Central Government's directives, sent to the chief secretaries of the states, do not explicitly reference the escalating tensions with Pakistan, but the timing leaves little doubt about the intended context.

The previous occurrence of such a drill was in the lead-up to the 1971 war between India and Pakistan, a conflict that resulted in Pakistan's defeat and the formation of Bangladesh.

"The conduct of the exercise is planned up to the village level. This exercise aims to assess and enhance the readiness of Civil Defence mechanisms across all States and Union Territories," the notification said.

It recommended "active participation of the District Controller, various district authorities, civil defence wardens/volunteers, Home Guard (active /reservists volunteers), NCC, NSS, NYKS, college and school students".

The alert further indicates that ordinary citizens need to be educated on how to react in the event of a "hostile attack".

The Home Ministry's announcement outlines the nine goals of this security exercise. The primary objective is to evaluate the efficiency of air raid alert systems, with a focus on preparing the public to respond to an airborne assault.

The drill will also ensure that hotline and radio communication links with the Air Force are fully functional. The exercise will further examine the performance of control and shadow control rooms.

According to the announcement, it is essential to train civilians and students in civil defence, so they can safeguard themselves in case of an adversarial attack.

The training incorporates measures for planned blackouts, known as crash blackout measures, designed to protect against aerial assaults. During these drills, residents may be instructed to turn off their lights for a set period to simulate a blackout scenario.

The training will also involve camouflaging crucial facilities and installations to protect key areas such as airfields, refineries, and rail yards from enemy attacks. The readiness of rescue teams and firefighters will be tested, along with evacuation procedures.

These evacuation drills will serve as practice for relocating civilians from high-risk areas to safety. Moreover, civilians will receive training in first-aid, firefighting, and shelter techniques.