The situation between India and Pakistan has become tense after the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. India, taking a major action against terrorism on Tuesday-Wednesday night, carried out air strikes on 9 terrorist hideouts in Pakistan at 1.30 am.
Today, as per the orders of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, instructions have been issued for mock drills and security preparedness exercises across the country. 20 cities of Punjab have been divided into Zone 2 and Zone 3. Today, Wednesday, May 7, security-related exercises will be conducted in two phases.
These are the 20 spots where the sirens hoot is scheduled at 4:00 PM
Amritsar, Barnala, Bathinda, Bhakra Nangal (Ropar), Firozpur, Halwara (Ludhiana), Gurdaspur, Kotkapura, Hoshiarpur, Batala (Gurdaspur), Jalandhar, Mohali, Ludhiana, Abohar (Fazilka), Patiala, Faridpur (Kapurthala), Pathankot, Ropar, Adampur (Jalandhar), Sangrur,
Know how the drill will be done in two phases
According to the information released from the local district offices, the first air attack mock drill will be conducted on Wednesday evening, in which rescue operations and people's reactions in the event of an air attack will be evaluated. Under this, administrative staff, emergency services, and security forces will be activated to check how much time it takes and how efficiently the action is taken in an emergency.
This will be followed by a blackout rehearsal at night, in which electric lights will be switched off in the entire area so that in the event of an actual attack, it would be difficult for the enemy to target. The common citizens will also be asked to cooperate in this exercise and take necessary precautions.
Know the scheduled timings of blackout and drill
Each district has decided to have a blackout at different times, but the mock drill will be held simultaneously at 4 pm. But the blackout is to be done between 7 pm and 11 pm in different districts. In Jalandhar, it will be for an hour, while in other cities the lights will be kept off for half an hour.
- Amritsar- 11:30 to 11 am
- Jalandhar—8 pm to 9 PM
- Ludhiana at 8:30 PM
- Batala to 9.30 PM
- Gurdaspur—9 to 9.30 PM
- Pathankot- 10 to 10.30 PM
- Abohar—10 to 10.30 pm
Why is this practice necessary?
- Examination of preparations given the possibility of attacks in border areas.
- Assessment of emergency response capacity of the general public and administration.
- To enhance the efficiency of coordination and timely action among security agencies.
The administration has appealed to the people not to spread any rumors regarding this practice and to follow government guidelines. This exercise is only to ensure safety preparation.
Police, SDRF, and other rescue teams will participate in the mock drill.
In this mock drill, police, SDRF, and other rescue teams will be given training to survive during war, and in the mock drill, sirens warning of an air attack will be sounded. This is being done for the first time by the central government amid the ongoing tension between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack.
Appeal to people: give way to the fire brigade and ambulance
Mock drills are not just for government departments or emergency departments but also for all citizens. After tomorrow, whenever it is dawn and you see an ambulance or fire brigade vehicle on the road, it is everyone's duty to give way to it first. The district administration has made it clear that this drill will continue in the future also. In such a situation, be alert by listening to the sound of ambulance and fire brigade sirens.
What is an air raid siren?
The air raid siren is a special kind of loud and intense sound, which is played for 60 seconds. Its purpose is to give people early warning of any possible danger, such as an air attack or other emergency situation, so that they can reach a safe place in time.
Why is a mock drill necessary?
- Mock drill is a strategic preparation before a real threat
- Whether the security devices and siren system are working properly
- It helps in understanding how the officials and common people should react in such situations.
- To know how do officials and common people react in such situations
- To know how effective is reaction time and coordination
- This can reduce possible losses in case of disaster.
How do war sirens work?
- Mechanical air sirens—These produce a loud sound due to rotating discs and air pressure.
- Electric sirens—These operate on electricity and alert by sound vibration.
- Electronic Siren—This is a modern technology that can be operated remotely through digital control and a speaker system.