Locals, traders take part in mock drills at Panchkula
In a demonstration of national civil defence preparedness, a mock drill was conducted in the district. The exercise, which was part of a nationwide campaign to ensure readiness for emergency situations, was organised under the leadership of Deputy Commissioner (DC) Monika Gupta.
A blackout was also observed in the district from 7.50 pm to 8 pm.
The mock drill exercise aimed to evaluate the district’s capability to manage large-scale evacuations, fires and other critical situations.
District officials, including Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Himadri Kaushik, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Nisha Yadav and Municipal Commissioner Aparajita, played a key role in overseeing the operation.
The drill, which began at 4 pm, commenced at the Mini Secretariat, Sector 1, with the sounding of a siren to signal the start of the exercise.
The siren alerted all the relevant departments, including the police, fire brigade, civil defense and home guard, who rushed to the scene to simulate a real emergency response.
Within moments, fire brigade personnel used ladders to rescue people from the first floor, while other individuals were carried out on stretchers, in chairs, or even in the arms of rescuers. Once evacuated, the victims were transported to safe locations and hospitals using ambulances and buses.
The DC reassured the public, clarifying that the exercise was part of a preparedness plan mandated by both the central and state governments.
“This drill is designed to improve operational efficiency in emergency situations. There is no need for the public to panic,” she said, urging people to follow official advisories and ignore rumors.
Following the successful evacuation at the District Secretariat, a similar exercise was carried out at the Sector 20 market in cooperation with the Market Association.
Officials informed the public about the purpose of the drill and provided guidance on how to react during an emergency. However, the public drill invited more mobile phone wielding spectators than serious participants. Others were more bothered about getting out of the mock drill locations moving their cars out and posing hindrance in the mock rescue.
During the event, several senior district administration officials, including Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Chandrakant Kataria and District Revenue Officer Dr Kuldeep, were present on the site to oversee the proceedings.
Irrespective of the challenges, Gupta emphasised the importance of communication during emergencies, urging the public to disregard rumors and only rely on official channels for information.
Chandigarh