Bhubaneswar: A 7-day mock drill will begin at 12 districts on Wednesday to prepare for possible wartime situation, Director General of Fire & Emergency Services Sudhanshu Sarangi informed on Tuesday.
Air raid warning sirens will be blare for around 5 minutes at 4 pm during the civil defence mock drills in Angul, Khurda, Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Ganjam, Jagatsinghpur, Dhenkanal, Puri, Koraput, and Sundargarh districts.
“Tomorrow, we will carry out the mock drills in several urban areas of the state. In coastal areas, the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) will use its sirens meant for natural disasters. There is no war-like situation currently, the drills are a precautionary measure to prepare the public for any possible ariel threats. We advise the public to take shelter under any concrete roof during this period,” The DG said.
The exercise is being done amid heightening tensions between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. A preparatory meeting was also chaired by the Chief Secretary in this regard.
Sarangi further stated that people living in Kutcha house will be relocated. “The district administrations have been asked to identify safe shelters for slum dwellers. The mock drills will be gradually extended from urban areas to rural areas over the week. In case of an air attack, the civil defence volunteers will blow sirens again, indicating that the attack is over. Their response to the post-attack situation will also be assessed,” the official said.
He further stated that National Cadet Corps (NCC), National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers, Apada Mitra, and regional voluntary organisations will also be mobilised for the mock drill. “There is no need to panic. It will be a mock drill like OSDMA conducts cyclone mock drills in coastal areas. It will be conducted to make people prepared to deal with any such situation,” he said.
The DG added that control rooms in connection with the preparedness will be set up at the state and district levels.
OSDMAS director Kamal Lochan Mishra further elaborated that people are required to move to nearest concrete shelters on hearing the siren. “The drill will continue for 30 minutes during which we expect cooperation from people since it is being held to prepare them for any eventualities. It will end when the siren is blown again following which people can come out of their houses. Emergency services will remain unaffected during this period. OSDMAS will respond as required to Kalbaisakhi too,” he added.
The sirens along the state’s 480-km coastline will be used for the purpose. “We have volunteers at the cyclone shelters and they will exhibit their skills during the mock drill. There will be no evacuation,” he added.
Notably, rhe last such drill was conducted in India in 1971, ahead of the India-Pakistan war.
Follow these steps to ensure personal safety and contribute to community preparedness:
Air Raid Warning Sirens
Familiarise yourself with the air raid siren sounds (e.g., long wails for alerts, short bursts for all-clear).
Identify the nearest shelter locations, such as basements, underground car parks, or designated safe zones.
Keep a basic emergency kit ready, including:
Torch with extra batteries
Water bottles
Non-perishable food items
First aid kit
What to Do During the Drill
Immediately stop outdoor activities and proceed to the nearest shelter.
Avoid using phones unless necessary to keep communication lines free for emergencies.
Follow instructions from authorities or wardens present in the area.
Make sure children, elderly, and pets are part of your emergency preparedness plan.
What Not to Do
Do not ignore the sirens or assume it is unimportant.
Avoid panicking or creating unnecessary commotion.