Lucknow: All 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh will plunge into darkness on Friday evening.
Power supply will be temporarily suspended and sirens will sound across the state, including in capital city Lucknow, from 6 pm to 6.10 pm as part of a blackout mock drill to assess security and emergency preparedness.
The security drill has been arranged to mark Parakram Diwas, on the occasion of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary.
Aimed at testing readiness for emergency situations like air attacks or war-like scenarios, the drill will see teams from civil defence, police, SDRF, NDRF, fire services and health department taking part.
According to officials of district administrations, emergency rescue procedures will also be demonstrated during the blackout drill.
Guidelines to be followed during the mock drill have been issued for residents. People have been advised to stay indoors, switch off all lights, avoid using mobile phones, torches, or flashlights, and ensure that no light is visible from homes or shops, Times Now reported.
Citizens have also been advised not to step out of their homes unnecessarily, refrain from smoking, ignore rumours and remain calm.
Authorities emphasised that there is no cause for panic as the exercise is purely a mock drill, and not a real emergency.
