Mock power outage drills were conducted across Punjab on Friday evening to assess emergency preparedness, officials said.
As part of testing the readiness of civil defense in the state, a mock civil defense air strike exercise was carried out for 15 minutes in all districts, starting at eight in the evening. Track updates on the US-Iran war
Power outages were implemented in parts of Ludhiana, where officials said the Punjab State Power Corporation cut off electricity supply to Punjab Agricultural University and its surrounding colonies, including upscale areas like Kitchlu Nagar and Rishi Valmiki Nagar.
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Local residents fully cooperated with the government’s call and refrained from using generators in their homes for 15 minutes.
At 8:15 p.m., the administration sounded the siren to signal the end of the power outage, after which power was restored.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Poonam Singh said the exercise was merely a preparedness exercise aimed at assessing readiness to deal with any future necessity.
She stressed that the blackout was monitored strictly and in its true spirit.
The exercise saw coordinated participation from multiple agencies, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), firefighters, district administration, municipal corporation, police, health department, civil defence, and National Cadet Corps (NCC).
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She said the exercise aims to simulate a real-time emergency response scenario and enhance inter-agency coordination.
In Hoshiarpur, a civil defense airstrike and mock power outage drill were carried out across the district, officials said.
The exercise was carried out under the guidance of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and led by Deputy Commissioner Aashika Jain.
The drill began around 8pm at the Duff College Civil Defense Control Centre, with a red alert signal. Before this, high- and low-pitched sirens were sounded throughout the area for two minutes at 7:58 pm to signal an air raid warning to residents.
Later, the electricity supply to the area was completely cut off at exactly eight o’clock in the evening by the Electricity Department. During the power outage, all lights were turned off except for essential services.
Police forces and civil defense volunteers ensured the effective implementation of the power outage operation through coordinated efforts across the region.
After the air raid warning simulation ended, a green signal was issued from the control center, after which the power outage was lifted. A “all clear” signal was sent by sounding a high-pitched siren continuously for two minutes.
During the training at DAV College, teams from the Fire Brigade, Health Department, Home Guards (Civil Defence) and NCC carried out rescue operations and demonstrated emergency response measures. The exercise included providing first aid to the injured and beginning relief operations.
The police also managed traffic and secured the affected area to facilitate the rapid movement of emergency services.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate Amandeep Kaur Sandhu said the exercise was successful and helped assess preparedness and coordination among various departments. She also thanked citizens for their cooperation.
In Amritsar, a power outage drill was conducted at Bitex Ground, Ranjit Road, where lights in the area were switched off.
At eight o’clock in the evening, sirens sounded throughout the city, signaling the start of the mock training. Officials said that on this occasion, citizens voluntarily turned off the lights in their homes and commercial establishments.
Assistant Commissioner (General) Pragti Sethi said the exercise involved practicing complete power outage, with the active cooperation of the power department as well as the public.
During the mock training, civil defense personnel also piloted evacuation procedures and rapid response measures during a potential airstrike.
Sethi said the aim of the exercise was to prepare residents to respond to emergencies in situations such as possible air attacks or war-like conditions.
