Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
The Punjab government will conduct a statewide Civil Defence air raid and blackout mock drill on April 24 at 8 PM across all districts, in line with directions issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
The drill will commence with an “air raid warning signal,” which will be broadcast through high and low pitch sirens for a duration of two minutes.
During the exercise, designated areas identified by the respective Deputy Commissioners-cum-Controllers of Civil Defence will undergo a simulated blackout. Residents in these areas have been advised to switch off all non-essential lights during the blackout period. However, essential services will remain operational throughout the drill.
The exercise will conclude with an “all clear” signal, marked by a continuous high-pitch siren lasting for two minutes, indicating the formal end of the drill.
As part of the mock exercise, various emergency response activities will be simulated to assess coordination in real-time situations. These include firefighting operations, search and rescue missions, first aid and medical assistance, evacuation of injured persons, and measures for traffic and crowd control.
The state government has urged the public not to panic, emphasizing that the exercise is a routine procedural drill aimed at evaluating and strengthening civil defence preparedness across the state.