A mock power outage drill is scheduled to be held in Punjab on Friday night, April 24, to assess emergency preparedness. This exercise will reportedly be conducted in specific areas with the aim of strengthening the civil defense system. Mock exercises will also be held in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday evening.
As part of the mock drill, sirens will be sounded to warn of an airstrike, as directed by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), HT reported earlier.
Imaginary digging time in Punjab
The mock drill will reportedly be conducted between 8pm and 8:15pm in parts of Punjab on Friday.
Residents were urged to turn off unnecessary lights during the mock exercise.
Essential services will continue without interruption.
The mock exercise will begin with an air raid warning signal, which will be disseminated by two-minute high-pitched, low-pitched sirens.
During the exercise, power outages will be imposed in specific areas identified by deputy commissioners and civil defense observers, according to an earlier HT report.
Where will the mock training be held in Punjab?
The mock training will be conducted in all areas and will conclude with an “all clear” signal featuring a continuous, high-pitched siren that will last for two minutes.
Authorities will simulate key emergency operations during the exercise, including fire response, search and rescue, first aid and medical assistance, casualty evacuation, traffic and crowd control measures to evaluate coordination at the field level.
In Ludhiana, a mock power outage drill will be conducted at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) and in areas under Aggar Nagar PSPCL division on Friday from 8 pm to 8.15 pm, according to a PTI report.
In Faridkot, a blackout simulation exercise will be conducted at Dr Hari Singh Siwak Senior Secondary School.
J&K mock drill
In Jammu and Kashmir, district administrations of Kupwara and Anantnag announced similar exercises as part of emergency preparedness efforts. In Kupwara, the exercise is scheduled for April 24, with a preparation exercise at 3:30 pm and a power outage from 8 pm to 8:10 pm.
In Anantnag, the training will be conducted on April 23. Residents have been instructed to turn off all sources of light, including reflective lights, solar lights, torches, portable lights and vehicle lights, immediately after the siren, and to draw curtains to prevent light emission.
The mock exercises come as the first anniversary of the Operation Sindoor strikes, carried out by India against terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir on May 7 last year, approaches. A nationwide mock exercise was conducted before the ‘Operation Sindoor’ strikes as well last year.
