Admin to conduct civil defence exercise

During the war-like situation that followed the May 7 precision strikes, some gaps were noticed at various levels by the Director General of Fire Services, Home Guards and Civil Defence. To fill those gaps, Punjab Home Guards and the Civil Defence Department has asked Deputy Commissioners across the state to conduct an exercise, “Operation Abhyaas.”

DC Himanshu Jain said a letter was sent to all DCs regarding this and the district administration had already started working and coordinating towards the execution of the same. “Mock drills are being continued and all other instructions are being followed to avoid any lapse in case of emergency,” said Jain.

The Director General said hotline connections between the Air Force and the Regional Civil Defence Centre (RCDCC) were not operational at a number of centres and DCs all over state were requested to get in touch with BSNL to have their dedicated hotlines established.

Besides, it was found that at many places air raid sirens were either missing or were not operational. Such places should be identified and urgent efforts should be undertaken to procure the sirens, the order said.

the administration was asked to take steps to achieve the ratio of one civil defence volunteer for a population of 100.

Some basic equipment for search and rescue operations, medical kits, fire-fighting apparatus, public announcement system and basic provisions may be procured for an emergency and bunkers and trenches must be functional, the DCs were told. This should be urgently done, especially for bordering states adjoining Pakistan, said the Special DGP-cum-Commandant General, Home Guards and Director Civil Defence, Punjab, in the letter.

Ludhiana