Second mock drill conducted across J&K to enhance preparedness

Bivek Mathur

JAMMU, May 31: Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir carried out the second multi-agency mock drill codenamed “Operation Shield” to enhance emergency preparedness and strengthen coordination among agencies and Civil Defence volunteers during potential attacks from across the border.

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The drill was also aimed at sensitizing people about how to evacuate to safer places during such attacks.
A complete blackout was observed during the drill between 8:00 PM and 8:15 PM in many areas, with people switching off lights and remaining indoors as part of the safety exercise.
In Jammu district, drills were held at Government Higher Secondary School Akhnoor, SDM office Gajansoo Marh, RS Pura, Amphalla, and other areas, while in Samba, it was conducted within the premises of Boys Higher Secondary School Samba.
In Kathua, the drills were held in Kathua city and Hiranagar town near the International Border.
Similar exercises took place in border Rajouri and Poonch towns, Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban, Doda, and Kishtwar Districts.
At Akhnoor area of Jammu district, scenes of fire and injuries were simulated to reflect a cross-border shelling situation.
The Fire Brigade, SDRF, police, and Civil Defence teams took part in rescue and evacuation operations with NCC, NSS, and Bharat Scouts and Guides volunteers also assisting in the drill. Click here to watch video
A Sub-Divisional official here told the media persons that 73,000 people had recently been evacuated from 62 villages in the Akhnoor Sub-Division during the real cross-border firing and shelling incidents.
“But the current drill aimed to further enhance the coordination and public awareness,” he said.
At Gajansoo Marh, announcements were made asking people to cooperate during the blackout.
Loud sirens were used, and people turned off their lights and shut down businesses. Similar scenes were observed in RS Pura, Amphalla, and other areas of the city.
In Samba, the exercise began at 5 PM at the Boys Higher Secondary School.
Various departments, including the NDRF, SDRF, Police, Health, Municipality, and Civil Defence participated. The drill included rescue operations and coordination activities.
In Kathua and Hiranagar, sirens signalled the blackout. People turned off lights and headlights, and civil defence teams helped spread awareness about safety during air attacks or war-like situations.
Similar drills were conducted across Reasi, Rajouri, Poonch, Ramban, and Kishtwar districts as part of a larger preparedness effort.
Meanwhile, in Srinagar, Civil Defence mock drill was conducted at Deputy Commissioner’s office to assess ground preparedness regarding Civil Defence, Emergency Response in Srinagar.
The exercise took place in presence of the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Dr. Bilal Mohi-Ud-Din Bhat who is also the Chairman of District Disaster Management Authority.
Personnel from multiple Civil Defence services participated in the Mock Drill as part of the nationwide exercise to test and strengthen the preparedness.
The ‘Operation Shield’ has been designed to simulate hostile situations, including air raid sirens, blackout protocols, and various emergency response actions, to evaluate the preparedness of civil authorities, emergency services, and local populations.
The Drill was also aimed to replicate real-time scenarios that may arise from potential external threats, any troublesome circumstances besides measures being taken to further strengthen the Civil Defence mechanisms, ensuring security of critical infrastructure and citizen safety.
The Drill is expected to significantly improve inter-agency coordination, public awareness, and the ability of the administration to respond swiftly and efficiently in the event of any hostile act or natural disasters and test the effectiveness of safety protocols.
In Anantnag, the drill was held at Home Guard Lines Khanabal, Anantnag and District Magistrate (DM) Anantnag, Syeed Fakhruddin Hamid accompanied by other senior officers was present during the exercise.
The drill was part of a district-wide emergency preparedness initiative and included mock rescue and emergency drills to simulate crisis conditions.
Authorities urged the public not to panic during the drill, as sirens and other unusual activities will be part of the exercise.
The aim was to train both residents and the administration to respond effectively during emergencies.
In Ganderbal, the drill was conducted at Central University of Kashmir Tullmulla.
The drill, aimed at strengthening the district’s preparedness for emergency situations was presided over by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ganderbal, Jatin Kishore, and was attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal, Assistant Commissioner Revenue Ganderbal and other senior officers of the district administration.
Experts and personnel from SDRF, Health Department, Fire and Emergency Services, along with a large number of students and locals participated in the exercise.
Students in attendance received hands-on exposure to disaster management techniques and were educated on risk mitigation strategies and emergency protocols for such incidents as well as training on first aid.
In Kulgam, mock drills were held simultaneously at several institutions, including Government Degree College (GDC) Kulgam, GDC D.H. Pora, AMGDC Kilam and GDC Frisal.
The primary objective of the exercise was to assess and enhance the response capabilities of various departments and to create public awareness about safety measures during emergencies.
The drill was jointly carried out by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) Kulgam, Fire and Emergency Services, Health Department Kulgam, Revenue Department, and actively supported by NSS and NCC cadets.
In Bandipora, District Administration Bandipora today conducted a Mock Drill/Exercise at NM BHSS Kaloosa to strengthen emergency response mechanisms.
The event was held under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner (DC) Bandipora, Manzoor Ahmad Qadri, who presided over the proceedings and emphasized the importance of coordinated disaster preparedness.
Speaking on the occasion, DC highlighted the significance of such drills in building community resilience and ensuring swift and efficient responses to potential disaster situations. He lauded the efforts of all participants and stressed the importance of regular training exercises to familiarize both officials and civilians with emergency protocols.
In Baramulla, mock drill was conducted at the Indoor Sports Stadium Baramulla.
The exercise was held in collaboration with the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Civil Defence, Fire & Emergency Services, Jammu and Kashmir Police, Department of Information & Public Relations and other departments.
The mock drill simulated a high-intensity disaster situation involving evacuation, rescue operations, medical aid, crowd management, and real-time communication. Participating agencies responded promptly and efficiently, showcasing preparedness and coordination.
In Pulwama the drill was aimed at evaluating the readiness of both authorities and the general public in responding effectively to emergency situations.
The exercise simulated a high-intensity scenario requiring coordinated response efforts from various line departments.
The drill included simulation of different emergency and critical scenarios requiring multiple responses through a coordinated effort of all departments along with volunteers and public.

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