07-05-2025
Travelling By Train Today? Expect Blackouts And More As Part Of India-Wide Mock Drills
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As per the Railway Manual, the drill will include a blackout with unnecessary lights off and windows covered, aimed at boosting emergency preparedness of railway staff
Mock drills for emergency preparedness are being held across India on Wednesday, hours after the armed forces launched missile strikes at terror targets in Pakistan to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack. Increased security measures are being observed at railway stations across the country as part of the planned mock drill.
Under orders from the Home Ministry, a comprehensive civil defence mock drill is being conducted as part of the Civil Defence Program to prepare for potential wartime scenarios. The exercise includes several railway stations, such as Kachiguda (Hyderabad Division), Raichur (Guntakal Division), and Aurangabad (Nanded Division), among others. However, specific details about mock drills at stations in and around the capital, Delhi, remain unclear.
This mock drill aims to test emergency preparedness and inter-departmental coordination by simulating an attack scenario. Activities will include air raid warnings, blackout practices, safe evacuation drills, and evaluations of civil defence services, including fire extinguishing, Basic Life Support (BLS), and rescue operations.
As per the Railway Manual, a blackout will be implemented during the drill. Unnecessary lights will be switched off and windows covered. The primary objective of this exercise is to strengthen the emergency preparedness of railway personnel and ensure an effective response during crisis situations.
The exercise aims to activate air-raid sirens, train people in evacuation procedures, and clean bunkers and trenches, among other preparations for a potential 'hostile attack."
This emergency readiness exercise, possibly the first since 1971, is scheduled for 4 pm across most states. According to sources, around 600,000 volunteers are expected to participate, though the final count could be higher, PTI reported.
According to sources, these drills will involve students from educational institutions, employees of both government and private organisations, hospital staff, railway and metro officials, as well as uniformed personnel from the police, paramilitary, and defence forces.
Vulnerable locations include major metropolitan cities such as Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, and Kolkata, along with cities housing critical installations like nuclear facilities or those situated along the border.
'The civil defence authorities will assess the capabilities of these areas and address any deficiencies," a source mentioned.
This site identification exercise will continue for the next three days.
In response to the Pahalgam terror attack, the Indian armed forces conducted missile strikes early Wednesday on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. These targets included the Jaish-e-Mohammad stronghold in Bahawalpur and the Lashkar-e-Taiba base in Muridke.
Following the Pahalgam attack, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians, the prime minister had granted the armed forces complete operational freedom to determine the targets, methods, and timing of their actions against terrorism.
First Published:
May 07, 2025, 15:16 IST
