In a historic move, India is set to conduct one of its largest civil defence mock drills on Wednesday, aiming to prepare citizens for wartime scenarios such as aerial attacks, blackouts, and infrastructure protection. This unprecedented exercise will cover 259 locations across 27 states and 8 union territories, as announced by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. West Bengal to Witness Mock Drills at 31 Locations
West Bengal is one of the most prominently featured states with 31 designated locations for the drill, including major urban and semi-urban centers such as Koch Bihar, Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Malda, Siliguri, Bardhaman, Durgapur, Asansol, and more. These areas will simulate real-time emergency situations to test response mechanisms at local levels.
Purpose of the Mock Drill: This is the first nationwide civil defence exercise since the 1971 India-Pakistan war, conducted to: Educate the general public on what to do and what not to do during wartime. Test the operational readiness of civil defence volunteers, home guards, and local administrations. Enhance preparedness against possible aerial attacks, especially amid recent geopolitical tensions.
Key Highlights of the Exercise
1. Aerial Attack Simulation
States have been directed to simulate air raid warnings, test siren systems, and execute full-scale blackout operations (known as Crash Blackout) to confuse enemy aircraft in case of a night-time aerial attack.
2. Protection of Critical Infrastructure
Instructions have been issued to conceal or camouflage sensitive infrastructure such as:
Fuel depots
Railway stations
Airports
Bridges
Government buildings
This proactive strategy is designed to minimize damage in the event of a sudden enemy assault.
3. Civil Defence Training for Citizens
Authorities are instructed to conduct training sessions for:
School and college students
Local civilians
Civil defence volunteers and home guards
These drills will teach emergency evacuation, crowd coordination, and basic survival strategies.
4. Inter-agency Coordination
The mock drill will also measure the efficiency of coordination between:
Police departments
Fire services
Medical teams
Local municipalities and disaster management teams
Why This Matters Now
Given the rising India-Pakistan tensions, this initiative by the Modi government is seen as a strategic step to:
1. Strengthen national preparedness
2. Increase citizen awareness
3. Reduce casualties and chaos during unforeseen emergencies
4. This proactive measure ensures that the country is not caught off guard in case of conflict or natural disaster.
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