Gurpreet Singh :- The Punjab Government will conduct a statewide civil defence air raid and blackout mock drill on April 24 at 8 pm, as part of preparedness measures for emergency situations. The exercise, scheduled for 15 minutes until 8:15 pm, is being carried out on the directions of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
Officials said the primary objective of the drill is to assess the readiness of civil defence mechanisms and administrative agencies in dealing with emergencies such as air raids or other crisis situations. The exercise aims to test coordination, response time and the effectiveness of emergency protocols.
The drill will begin with an ‘air raid warning’ siren, which will sound for approximately two minutes in varying high and low pitches. Immediately after the siren, a complete blackout will be enforced in identified areas to simulate real-time emergency conditions.
During the exercise, various emergency response operations will be carried out, including fire response, search and rescue missions, first aid and medical assistance, evacuation of injured persons, and management of traffic and public movement. These activities are intended to evaluate coordination among field agencies and response teams.
Authorities clarified that essential services such as hospitals, fire brigade operations and other emergency services will continue to function normally throughout the drill to ensure that there is no disruption to critical services.
The government has urged the public not to panic, stating that the exercise is a routine preparedness measure. Citizens have been advised to avoid spreading or believing in rumours and to cooperate with the administration by switching off non-essential lights during the blackout period, thereby contributing to strengthening the state’s overall security preparedness.
