Odisha to Conduct Civil Defence Mock Drills Amid Rising Tensions
Civil Defence Exercises Scheduled Across 12 Districts
Bhubaneswar: On Wednesday, civil defence mock drills are set to take place in 12 districts of Odisha, following directives from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), as confirmed by a senior official.
In light of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan after the recent Pahalgam terror incident, the MHA has mandated that states, including Odisha, carry out comprehensive civil defence drills on May 7.
A preparatory meeting was held virtually by the MHA with representatives from all states to discuss the execution of these drills. In response, the Odisha government convened a preparatory session on Tuesday.
Sudhansu Sarangi, the Director General of Fire Services, who participated in the meeting, stated that the MHA has instructed all states, including Odisha, to initiate the mock drill at 4 PM on Wednesday.
The drills will occur in districts such as Angul, Khurda, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Ganjam, Dhenkanal, Puri, Koraput, Sambalpur, and Sundargarh.
These mock drills are planned to extend over a week and will also reach village levels. The fire service will manage drills in urban settings, while the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) will oversee coastal area drills on Wednesday, Sarangi noted.
The primary aim of these exercises is to educate the public on how to respond to potential air raids and ensure their safety during enemy attacks.
At 4 PM on Wednesday, air raid sirens will sound for approximately five minutes. Residents are urged to seek shelter in buildings with concrete roofs when they hear the sirens, according to the fire service DG.
Designated shelter homes will be established for those living in slums.
Following the mock attack, rescue and response operations will be simulated on May 7. Control rooms at both state and district levels will be activated shortly.
Sarangi reassured the public, stating, "There is no cause for alarm. This will be a mock drill similar to the cyclone drills conducted by OSDMA in coastal regions. The purpose is to prepare citizens for any such emergencies."
Kamol Lochan Mishra, the executive director of OSDMA, mentioned that the exercise will involve participation from all community members, including students from schools and colleges.
In a related development, a five-member team from the National Security Guard (NSG) visited Puri to assess security measures at the Jagannath temple. They held discussions with the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) and are scheduled to meet with senior police officials in Puri.
"As part of their nationwide initiative to evaluate security at critical installations, the NSG team is here to review the arrangements at Puri's Jagannath temple. We are fully cooperating with them," stated Vinit Agrawal, the Superintendent of Police in Puri.
"While there are no specific threats reported, the police prioritize security at the Jagannath temple," he added.