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Delhi Conducts Civil Defence Mock Drills Across 13 Districts for Disaster Prep

Civil Defence mock drills were conducted across 13 districts in Delhi to prepare for disasters and war-like scenarios. The exercises, held at locations like shopping malls, hospitals, and hotels, aimed to improve inter-agency coordination and public response capabilities. These drills are part of broader national preparedness efforts, including 'Operation Shield' in border states, which simulates hostile situations with blackouts and sirens. The initiative seeks to identify and close critical gaps in emergency response systems.

Key Points: Delhi Holds Civil Defence Mock Drills in 13 Districts

  • Drills across 13 Delhi districts
  • Focus on malls, hospitals, schools
  • Part of 'Operation Shield' near borders
  • Tests blackout & emergency protocols
2 min read

Delhi: Mock drills held across 13 districts ​

Delhi conducted civil defence mock drills across 13 districts to enhance disaster and war-like situation preparedness and inter-agency coordination.

"significantly improving inter-agency coordination, public awareness and the ability of local systems to respond swiftly - Directorate of Civil Defence"

New Delhi, April 2

Civil Defence mock drills were conducted across 13 districts in Delhi on Thursday as part of preparations to deal with disasters and war-like situations, an official said.​

From shopping malls in North and Old Delhi and from hospitals to schools and District Management offices, the mock drills underscored the government's efforts to strengthen civil defence mechanisms, said a statement issued by the Directorate of Civil Defence.​

In the New Delhi district, frequented by VIPs and foreigners, the mock drill was conducted at the Taj Palace Hotel on Sardar Patel Marg and at the Cantonment General Hospital in Delhi Cantonment, the statement said.​

The drills were aimed at significantly improving inter-agency coordination, public awareness and the ability of local systems to respond swiftly and efficiently in the event of any hostile act or natural disaster, it said.​

Last year, on May 7, civil defence mock drills were held in coordination with the police at Indira Gandhi International Airport Terminal 3. ​

The Ministry of Home Affairs had instructed several states to conduct civil defence mock drills on May 7 last year.​

Soon after "Operation Sindoor" the local administrations conducted civil defence mock drills to enhance national security preparedness, which were held under "Operation Shield" across several states and Union Territories sharing borders with Pakistan.​

The exercises were held in Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, and Chandigarh, focusing on regions closest to the border and most susceptible to cross-border threats.​

A statement emphasised the importance of this exercise in bolstering readiness and closing critical gaps identified during a similar nationwide drill conducted earlier.​

"Operation Shield" was designed to simulate hostile situations, including air-raid sirens, blackout protocols, and various emergency response actions, to evaluate the preparedness of civil authorities, emergency services, and local populations.​

The drills aimed to replicate real-time scenarios arising from potential external threats, particularly in sensitive districts near the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB).​

According to official sources, complete blackouts were enforced in identified vulnerable civilian areas across Punjab, except for essential services such as hospitals and emergency response units.​

Sirens were sounded to alert residents, and mock response measures were enacted to test how effectively communities and response agencies react under pressure.​

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Good step, but I hope the authorities also focus on our daily disaster management. Our cities flood every monsoon, and fire safety in many buildings is poor. These drills should translate to better everyday emergency response too.
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Arjun K
Operation Shield near the borders makes complete sense. We cannot afford to be complacent given the persistent threats. These mock drills, if conducted seriously, will definitely improve coordination between agencies. Jai Hind!
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Sarah B
I was near the Cantonment area when the siren went off. It was a bit startling but well-managed. People around me were confused at first. More public communication before such drills would help reduce panic.
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Vikram M
The mention of blackout protocols is crucial. In a real scenario, power grids could be a target. Hope they are also training citizens on what to do during a blackout—like having emergency kits ready. Most of us are not prepared at all.
K
Karthik V
While the intent is good, I wonder about the execution. We've all seen how traffic management drills fail because no one follows rules. Unless there is strict adherence and learning from gaps, this is just a photo-op for officials.
A
Ananya R
Including schools is the best part! Children should be taught disaster preparedness from a

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