"Delhi Conducts City-Wide Mock Drill Training to Boost Emergency Preparedness"
Delhi has started a large-scale civil defence mock drill at 55 locations across the city from 4 pm on Wednesday, as part of the nationwide exercise ‘Operation Abhyaas’..webp "mock drill")
The drill, directed by the central government, is designed to prepare citizens and authorities for possible emergency situations following rising tensions with Pakistan.
Officials said the mock drill will recreate different emergency situations like air raids, fires, and rescue missions. Sirens will be heard in all 15 police districts, and people may see more police activity in several areas.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has asked all states to hold similar drills due to “new and complex threats” after the Pahalgam terror attack.
On Tuesday, Delhi Police increased security with more barricades at key spots like Connaught Place and near Parliament.
They also brought in special Long-Range Acoustic Devices (LRADs), which can send messages up to one kilometre away. These will be used for crowd control and emergency announcements.
Five locations in each of Delhi’s 11 districts have been chosen for the drill. These include markets, schools, homes, government offices, and hospitals.
About 2,000 civil defence volunteers and 1,200 trained disaster workers called “Aapda Mitras” are taking part.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said Delhi is “fully ready” and all steps are being taken according to central government rules.
Officials said the drills will go on for the next two weeks and will cover all parts of the city.
Also, 650 schools across Delhi are involved. Students and teachers are being taught what to do during emergencies like blackouts or air raids.
Videos and training guides have been shared with schools and the general public.
Police are doing extra patrols during the day and night, especially at busy places like India Gate, Janpath, Connaught Place, and Gole Market. Different agencies like the fire department, health services, MCD, and civil defence are all working together.
The government has also set up safety shelters and is testing how fast departments can respond in a real emergency. The power department is considering blackout drills, though a full trial may not happen yet.
