HT Bureau
GUWAHATI/ DIPHU, May 7: In response to a directive issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India, extensive wartime safety mock drills were conducted across various districts of Assam today, including Dibrugarh, Kokrajhar, Karbi Anglong, Tezpur, and Jorhat. These drills were part of a nationwide initiative aimed at enhancing operational readiness and inter-agency coordination in the event of an aerial attack or wartime emergency.
The drills were conducted in light of heightened security measures following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which has prompted the central government to increase preparedness in sensitive districts across the country.
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Our Dibrugarh Correspondent adds:
A mock drill was held at the bustling Jayanta Dutta Road (Coal Road) located in the heart of Dibrugarh town. The event simulated a war-like situation beginning with air raid sirens at 4:00 PM, followed by smoke clouds, mock casualties, and the deployment of ambulances and fire-fighting teams. Civil defence personnel conducted rescue and evacuation operations, while a complete blackout was observed from 7:30 PM to 7:40 PM. Citizens cooperated by turning off lights, fans, and appliances, and closing windows and curtains to simulate concealment during an aerial attack.
District Commissioner Bikram Kairi highlighted the importance of such drills in raising public awareness and reducing the impact of actual wartime threats.
Civil Defence teams demonstrated similar mock operations in front of Diphu Railway Station. SP Sanjib Kumar Saikia explained that such exercises are vital for preparing the community and training responders to evacuate civilians efficiently during a real crisis. Notably, Karbi Anglong has been categorized as a Category III Civil Defence District by the Ministry of Defence.
Our Kokrajhar Correspondent adds: A district-level mock drill titled “Operation Abhyaas” was conducted at Kokrajhar Railway Station. The event included simulated air raid alerts, coordinated response from fire and emergency services, search and rescue operations, and temporary hospital setup. A blackout from 7:00 PM to 7:05 PM was observed in key administrative and public areas.
District Commissioner Masanda Magdalin Pertin emphasized public cooperation, urging residents to remain calm and follow instructions. She reiterated that the objective was to familiarize people with protocols such as air raid siren response, safe evacuation, and blackout discipline.
Our Tezpur Correspondent adds: Tezpur conducted its drill around the ASTC and State Bank of India Main Branch area. The simulation included bomb threat responses, mass evacuation, and real-time rescue operations with the involvement of medical teams, police, and civil defence volunteers.
Our Jorhat Correspondent adds: In Jorhat, the sirens were sounded at 4:05 PM. Rescue demonstrations were carried out in areas such as Baruah Chariali, Garali, and Marwari Thakurbari. A complete blackout was enforced at 7:00 PM with APDCL cutting power supply to simulate concealment. Senior district officials actively monitored the drill, which is expected to be replicated in other parts of the district in coming days.
The mock drills saw the participation of various agencies, including: Civil Defence, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Fire and Emergency Services, Assam Police, District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMA), Health and Power Departments, NCC, Scouts & Guides, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), DIPRO and other line departments
The exercises also included training sessions for civilians on how to seek shelter, administer first aid, and manage essential resources like food and water during emergencies.
Officials from all participating departments, including District Commissioners and Superintendents of Police, attended the events and commended the level of coordination and public participation.
“These drills are a critical step in strengthening our civil defence mechanism and ensuring that every stakeholder is prepared for any unforeseen event,” said one official.
