Amritsar prepares for 30-minute security exercise with blackout, siren from today

The district administration has asked the residents of this border district to prepare for a blackout exercise to be conducted from 10.30 pm to 11 pm tomorrow. The exercise is being undertaken in view of the escalating tension between and India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack besides preparing people for disasters arising out of a possible conflict.

Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney informed that preceding this event will be the sound of a siren, indicating an air strike tomorrow at 4 pm. She said whenever such a siren is heard tomorrow or thereafter, the general public is expected to get out of high-rise buildings as soon as possible and reach underground or ground-level place. If nothing is available, then they should sit under a tree. People who live in buildings should stay away from windows, especially from glass.

She said that during this time, pedestrians or vehicles moving on the road should immediately give way to emergency vehicles, which may include fire engines or ambulances.

She said sirens are being played by the Civil Defence for practice, so that their functionality and sound can be checked. There is no need to panic in any way during this time, the DC said.

During the 30-minute long blackout exercise from 10.30 pm tomorrow, all lights in the city will be switched off and people have been requested to keep the inverters or generators in their homes switched off during this time. If for some reason they have to keep them on, they should operate their lights in such a way that their lights do not go out of the window or door. Apart from this, CCTV cameras or solar lights which automatically get switched on when it gets dark should also be switched off during this time, so that the city appears completely dark.

During this time, if any vehicle is moving on the road, then they should switch off its lights and take it off the road and stop it on a dirt place.

Chief wardens of Civil Defence, Manpreet Singh and Surjit Sharma, said the public needs to be made aware about several dos and don’ts during war and peace, proxy war, open war, law and order problem and other emergency situations. The exercise is necessary to remain safe and mentally prepared.

The administration suggested to people not to panic in case of an emergency and make their children aware. First, save the air raid prevention checklist in your mobile, alert and be vigilant, recognise the sound of the air raid siren, listen to government alerts on mobile or radio, do not believe in rumours, pay attention only to official information, take shelter at a safe place, know the location of the nearest shelter, keep a windowless room ready in your house, decide in advance the route to reach the shelter quickly, keep the essentials ready, keep drinking water supply for at least three days, keep dry food, biscuits, dry fruits etc ready, first aid kit, torch and extra cell phone, portable radio, important documents (ID, medical report, bank details), mobile charger, power bank, darkness and safety, keep all lights off at night (blackout), put thick curtains, black paper or blinds on the windows, stay away from glass, lie down on the ground, practice and prepare, do air raid drills with family, teach children safe places and procedures, ensure mutual cooperation with neighbours.

Finding a suspicious object or bomb, do not touch it, instead inform the police, intimate the police about outsiders and unfamiliar faces in the neighbourhood.