Be wary of misinformation, authorities urge Mohali residents during mock drill
The 10-minute crash blackout and mock drill today gave the public and civil defence machinery crucial tips on safety.
To begin with, all lights, inverters and generators were to be turned off completely, auto-on solar/CCTV lights disabled, and vehicles were to pull over roadside, switching off their lights.
Residents living in high-rise buildings were informed and sensitised about measures like moving to ground floors or underground shelters in the event of an air raids war-like situation.
“Those on the road without immediate shelter should seek cover under trees,” Mohali Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Deepak Pareek said.
The residents were also told to be on guard against false information and inflammatory messages on social media.
“As responsible citizens, refrain from forwarding unverified messages that could incite panic or disrupt social harmony,” Pareek said, furhter adding that the district’s cyber cell has been put on alert to monitor and curb rumors.
The SSP said the purpose of the exercise was to prepare residents for emergency response during potential air attacks or war-like situation, adding, “A crash blackout is a crucial emergency measure to reduce visibility of potential targets during air raids.”
A considerable time before the mock drill was spent on discussing whether the rescued individuals should be taken out in the open areas or escorted to bunker like constructions. Cops finally decided to escort them to the basement of the shopping mall.
A demonstration of how a person who sustains injuries during a fall in the bathroom is to be safely evacuated was also staged.
In the morning, area Station House Officers were directed to carry out “Muniadi” with loudspeakers on autorickshaws, combing every nook and cranny informing about the blackout in the evening.
Firefighting demonstrations were carried out, with firemen showing how to douse flames using waterhoses.
Despite the authorities’ efforts , some aspects of the drill faced a few hurdles.
Citizens in residential societies switched off their lights during the blackout and came out in balconies, rather than rushing out in the open, during the blackout.
Fruit, vegetable vendors colourful, twinkling lights, meanwhile, struck a discordant note with the blackout in Dera Bassi. In Phase 1, a liquor vend shone brightly in the company of cops even as lights of nearby houses remained switched off.
Real-time emergency response in focus
The police, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) , firemen, the district administration, the health department, Punjab Home Guards and National Service Scheme volunteers conducted a mock drill on fire safety and rescue operations to check civil defence preparedness at Bestech Mall.
The drill commenced at
4 pm with the simulation of receiving information about an air raid, prompting swift coordination among multiple agencies and the public.
An incident command post was set up at the mall, where nodal officers of different departments huddled together. Around 200 visitors in the mall were safely taken to the second basement through stairs, considering it to be the safest place to take shelter.
The highlight of the exercise was Civil Defense officers and CISF conducting demonstrations on disaster management techniques even as public watched on gamely.
Deputy Commissioner Komal Mittal said such exercises are proactive measures to enhance safety and preparedness. Senior Superintendent of Police Deepak Pareek, meanwhile, warned rumour mongers against creating panic and urged people to trust information from official sources only.
Chandigarh