Mock drills, blackouts to be held in Punjab today; here are the timings
The second statewide civil defence exercise, codenamed Operation Shield, will be held across Punjab on Saturday, with mock drills from 6 pm and blackouts between 8 pm and 10 pm, varying by district.
The administration has urged residents to remain calm, clarifying that this is a routine preparedness drill in compliance with the Ministry of Home Affairs' mandate following the Pahalgam terror attack.
This is the second such drill in Punjab, following the one held on May 7. Here are the district-wise timings and details:
1. Gurdaspur
Mock drill: 6 pm at Gurdaspur bus stand
Blackout: 8 pm to 8.30 pm
Apart from civil defence teams, home guards, NCC, health department, fire brigade, and police teams will participate. Jaswinder Singh, the Dinanagar sub-divisional magistrate, is the nodal officer. Villagers have been advised to observe a voluntary blackout.
2. Ferozepur
Sirens: 6:00 – 6:30 PM in city and cantonment areas
Blackout: 9 pm to 9.30 pm
Residents advised to turn off lights, stay indoors, and remain calm.
3. Amritsar
Blackout: 8 pm to 8.30 pm
Major Amit Sareen, additional deputy commissioner (urban development), has advised residents to stay in ground-floor safe rooms. Fans on inverters allowed; rooftop movement discouraged.
4. Tarn Taran
Mock drill: 6 pm
Blackout: 8.30 pm to 9 pm
5. Barnala
Mock drill: 6 pm at Government Senior Secondary School (Sandhu Patti), Trident Factory, and Air Force Station (Bhadalwad)
Blackout: 8.30 pm to 9 pm
6. Sangrur
Mock drill: 6 pm
Blackout: 8 pm to 9 pm
7. Pathankot
Blackout: 8 pm to 10 pm (Exact timing yet to be confirmed)
8. Fazilka
Mock drill: 6 pm
Blackout: Timing yet to be finalised
9. Jalandhar
Mock drill: 6 pm
Blackout: 9.30 pm to 10 pm
10. Patiala
Mock drill: 5 pm to 8 pm at Raja Bhalindra Singh Sports Stadium (Polo Ground)
Blackout: 8 pm to 8.10 pm at Lal Bagh Colony
Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Isha Singhal emphasised the importance of preparedness.
11. Ludhiana
Blackout: 8 pm to 8.15 pm
Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd will cut power supply to 18 villages and Rajguru Nagar just before the drill and restore it after 15 minutes. Areas affected: Bhanohar, Hasanpur, Baddowal, Rurka, Jamgpur, Khadoor, Haveli, Adda City Dakha, Ajitsar, Issewal, Gahour, Detwal, Kailpur, Baraich, Madiani, MorKarima, Boothgarh, and Baddowal Cantonment area.
12. Bathinda
Mock drill: 6 pm in Army area and Ganpati Colony
Blackout: 8.30 pm to 8.40 pm
Deputy Commissioner Shaukat Ahmad Parray said sirens will be sounded, and compliance is mandatory.
13. Malerkotla
Mock drill: 1 pm at DC office
Blackout: Not specified
14. Muktsar
Mock drill: 6 pm at DC office
Blackout: Not specified
15. Fatehgarh Sahib
Mock drill: 6 pm at DC office
Blackout: Not specified
16. Faridkot
Mock drill: 6 pm at Kotkapura (Venue TBD)
Blackout: Not specified
17. Moga
Mock drill and blackout: 8 pm near Nestlé plant
Additional Deputy Commissioner Charumita emphasised safety preparedness.
18. Mansa
Not a part of civil defence districts. No mock drills or blackouts planned at the time of filing this report.
19. Mohali
Mock drill: 6 pm at BPCL Lalru (Derabassi)
Deputy Commissioner Komal Mittal said an air raid siren will precede a rescue simulation. Traffic lights and vehicle headlights will be turned off in the area.
20. Rupnagar
Mock drill: 5 pm at NFL Nangal
Blackout: 8 pm to 8.15 pm
Deputy Commissioner Varjeet Walia urged residents not to panic.
21. Hoshiarpur
Mock drill: 6 pm
Blackout: 8 pm to 8.15 pm
Deputy Commissioner Aashika Jain has issued detailed instructions for total darkness, including external lights, inverters, CCTV lights, and signage. Essential lighting must be covered if it cannot be turned off.
22. Nawanshahr
Mock drill: 6 pm
Blackout: 8 pm to 8.15 pm
23. Kapurthala
Blackout: 9.30 pm to 10 pm. Only in Kapurthala and Phagwara
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