Bhubaneswar: After the successful execution of Operation Sindoor against terror hubs in Pakistan and PoK, Odisha is gearing up for the nationwide civil defence preparedness exercise slated to commence on Wednesday.
This mock drill, directed by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), aims to enhance civilian readiness against potential threats, particularly in light of the recent tensions with Pakistan.
As part of the initiative, the Odisha government is set to conduct a full-scale civil defence mock drill in 12 districts from Wednesday as part of a nationwide exercise to boost civilian preparedness against air strike or similar hostile incidents.
The week-long drill simulating wartime civilian preparedness will be conducted in Angul, Balasore, Bhadrak, Dhenkanal, Ganjam, Jagatsinghpur, Khurda, Kendrapada, Koraput, Puri, Sambalpur and Sundargarh, officials said.
As India targets terrorism, the exercise will prepare people for wartime emergencies and train them to deal with all kinds of situations, said Revenue and Disaster Management minister Suresh Pujari.
Ahead of the exercise, the state Home department on Tuesday held a meeting with the officials of fire service, Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) and other stakeholders for conduct of the mock drill.
Fire Service DG Sudhansu Sarangi said as per the directions of MHA, the nationwide mock drill at 4 pm on Wednesday. The exercise will be held in a selected number of urban areas of the 12 districts on the first day. The OSDMA will conduct the drill in its transit shelters in the coastal areas. The district collectors will coordinate the drills in their jurisdictions, he said.
During the exercise, air raid sirens will be activated at 4 pm for nearly five minutes and people will be asked to take shelter under concrete roof. A second siren will blare after a gap of 15-20 minutes signalling that the threat is over and people can move out. The exercise will also include rescue, relief and firefighting drills and involve NCC cadets as well as youth volunteer groups.
The planned drills assume added significance following ‘Operation Sindoor’ targeting nine terror sites in Pakistan and PoK. These strikes were in retaliation to a terrorist attack on April 22 in Kashmir that killed 26 people.
The Indian government emphasised that the operation was precise and non-escalatory, focusing on terrorist infrastructure.
In the wake of the successful operation, the civil defence drills are crucial for ensuring that civilians are prepared for any emergency. The exercises aim to educate the public on how to respond effectively during such attacks, including seeking shelter and avoiding open or vulnerable areas.
Salient Features of the drills
• Air Raid Sirens: Sirens will sound at the beginning and end of the drill.
• Evacuation Procedures: Simulated evacuations will be conducted to test the readiness of emergency services and the public.
• Emergency Response Simulations: Scenarios such as bombings and air raids will be simulated to assess the response of various agencies.
• Public Guidance: Instructions will be provided to the public on how to react during emergencies, including seeking shelter and following official directives.
People have been requested to participate actively and follow instructions during the drills. These exercises are designed to identify strengths and areas for improvement in the current civil defence preparedness.
