4 days ago
Ludhiana conducts mock drill to tackle drone attacks at Dholewal Military Complex
A mock drill as part of the second statewide civic defence exercise, codenamed Operation Shield, was held at Dholewal Military Complex in Punjab's Ludhiana late Saturday evening. The exercise was aimed at evaluating and ensuring quick access of relief and emergency response teams to military installations during drone attacks, as well as to equip the public with the skills to handle crises effectively.
The drill commenced at 8 pm with an alarm, prompting swift coordination among multiple agencies, including the Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), fire brigade, district administration, municipal corporation (MC), police, health department, civil defence, National Cadet Corps (NCC), Nehru Yuva Kendra and others. Organised by the district administration in collaboration with defence authorities, the exercise simulated a real-time emergency response.
Subdivisional Magistrate (Ludhiana East) Jasleen Kaur Bhullar said an incident command post was promptly established within the complex where nodal officers from participating departments convened. The fire brigade and NDRF conducted demonstrations on management techniques, while other teams showcased methods for rescuing and treating individuals during emergencies, emphasising life-saving protocols.
Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain emphasised that the drill was designed to raise public awareness and ensure readiness for any district-wide emergency.
Before the mock drill, the administration had 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 was the second such drill in Punjab, following the one held on May 7. That mock drill was conducted nationwide shortly after Operation Sindoor, India's military operation under which the armed forces targeted terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people were killed in South Kashmir.
