Guwahati– Fourteen designated ‘civil defence districts’ across Assam are set to participate in a significant nationwide civil defence operation today, May 7, following directives issued by the Central government. This extensive mock drill aims to evaluate and enhance the state’s preparedness in the face of potential emergencies.
Unlike regular administrative demarcations, ‘civil defence districts’ are specifically identified geographical areas, often encompassing critical infrastructure such as cantonments, refineries, or nuclear plants, where heightened civil defence measures are deemed necessary due to specific vulnerabilities or strategic importance.
Preparations for this crucial exercise were reviewed in a high-level meeting convened by Chief Secretary Ravi Kota, involving key agencies and stakeholder departments. A senior official confirmed that the Chief Secretary assessed the readiness for the drill in accordance with central government guidelines, leading to the issuance of instructions to the 14 identified districts to proceed with the prescribed mock drill procedures.
While specific details of the drill remain undisclosed, it has been confirmed that the operation will commence at 4 pm and will continue until all designated steps are thoroughly executed. The Assam Police’s Home Guard and Civil Defence wing will spearhead the operations, collaborating closely with various other essential agencies.
Inspector General of Police for Home Guard and Civil Defence, Arabinda Kalita, stated that vital services including fire services, the health department, disaster management authorities, BSNL, and the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) will actively participate in the drill. He further added that the Indian Army has been informed and is likely to join the exercise, with Guwahati also included in the planned locations.
In anticipation of the drill, the Fire & Emergency Services (F&ES) headquarters has disseminated specific guidelines to all district centres. Directives have been issued to all F&ES station in-charges to coordinate with District Controllers, various District Authorities, and Civil Defence Wardens/Volunteers, ensuring seamless cooperation for the successful execution of the civil defence mock drill, followed by the submission of detailed action-taken reports.
The primary objectives of this comprehensive mock drill include a thorough assessment of the effectiveness of existing air raid warning systems, the operational status of hotline and radio communication links with the Indian Air Force, and the functional integrity of both primary and shadow control rooms.
Furthermore, the exercise will focus on evaluating the training of civilians in responding to hostile attacks, the implementation of crash blackout measures, the timely camouflaging of vital installations, the responsiveness of civil defence services, and the preparedness and execution of evacuation plans. Officials have emphasized the importance of these evaluations in bolstering the state’s overall emergency response capabilities.
This nationwide initiative to conduct mock drills across all states has been prompted by the Ministry of Home Affairs in response to “new and complex threats” that have emerged amidst escalating tensions with Pakistan following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam.
Authorities across all states have been instructed to ensure broad participation in these mock drills, involving students from educational institutions, employees from both government and private sectors, hospital staff, railway and metro officials, as well as uniformed personnel from the police, paramilitary forces, and the defence forces. This inclusive approach underscores the importance of a unified and coordinated response in the face of potential security challenges, particularly in light of the heightened regional tensions following the April 22 terror attack in south Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which tragically resulted in the loss of 26 lives, predominantly tourists.
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