Mock drill held in UT, Panchkula, Mohali under Operation Shield

As part of the second civil defence exercise “Operation Shield”, a scenario was simulated at the Air Force Station, Chandigarh, involving an attack by a swarm of enemy drones. In response to the simulated threat, the Station Commander sought immediate assistance from the civil administration to evacuate families from the station premises to a safer location.

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Upon receiving the request, the Health Department, Fire Services and civil defence units were promptly activated. The injured were triaged on site, and those with serious conditions swiftly transported to the nearest hospital. Remaining evacuees were relocated to the Community Centre, Sector 47, where comprehensive medical check-ups and treatment were provided to them.

Further, a coordinated 10 minute blackout drill from 8 pm to 8.10 pm was also observed by all residents in Kishangarh and IT Park showcasing exceptional unity, discipline and community spirit.

Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav said, “The response of residents during the blackout drill reflects our shared commitment to collective safety and civil defence preparedness.”

He further extended his heartfelt gratitude to residents, civil defence volunteers and all departments involved, noting the seamless execution of the drill without disruption or confusion.

The exercise aimed to test and enhance the coordination, preparedness and response capabilities of civil and defence agencies in the event of an emergency, he said.

Two mock drills bolster emergency preparedness

In a coordinated effort to enhance disaster readiness and civil defence mechanisms, two major mock drills were conducted in Panchkula today under the state-wide emergency preparedness initiative “Operation Shield”. The exercises were held at the PWD Rest House in Sector 1 under the leadership of Deputy Commissioner Monika Gupta, and at The Right Cut Saloon in Sector 12, organised by the Panchkula Municipal Corporation under the supervision of Municipal Commissioner Aparajita.

At the Sector 1 PWD Rest House, the drill commenced at 5 pm with the sounding of a siren, triggering an immediate emergency response. Personnel from the police, Home Guards, Fire Department, civil defence, Red Cross, and Mera Yuva Bharat volunteers swiftly responded after receiving alerts through Dial 112. Within minutes, fire brigade teams had connected ladders to the upper floors and began evacuating people. Individuals were rescued using stretchers, ropes, chairs and in some cases, were physically carried by responders. They were then transported safely to designated shelters and hospitals via ambulances and buses.

Deputy Commissioner Monika Gupta stated that the drill was conducted in line with central and state government directives to ensure that the district remains well-prepared for any unforeseen emergencies. She emphasised on the importance of public cooperation during such exercises and urged citizens to follow official advisories and avoid rumours. She further noted that around 3,000 school and college students had recently received civil defence training. A similar awareness exercise was conducted earlier at the Sector 12 market in collaboration with the local market association.

Simultaneously, at 4.58 pm, another comprehensive mock drill began in Sector 12 at The Right Cut Saloon, spearheaded by the Municipal Corporation. Upon the sound of the initial siren, an emergency call was placed to 112, initiating the drill. The police, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), civil defence teams, the Fire Department and Home Guards arrived promptly at the scene with full resources. The scenario simulated an emergency requiring evacuation of injured individuals, who were rescued using various methods, including stretchers, ropes and manual assistance. The evacuation concluded successfully with the use of roadways buses and ambulances. A second fire alarm was sounded at 5.12 pm as part of the simulated situation.

Municipal Commissioner Aparajita praised the seamless coordination and quick response of all departments involved, noting that the mock drill was executed safely and within schedule, with no injuries or damage. She reiterated that such drills were critical to prepare the administration and the public for potential real-life emergencies.

“These drills mark a significant step in reinforcing Panchkula’s commitment to public safety, with the authorities pledging continued efforts to strengthen disaster management systems and ensure the well-being of its residents,” she said.

Stranded people evacuated from BPCL plant in Lalru

As soon as an air raid siren was sounded, emergency response teams immediately rushed to the building of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) storage-cum-bottling plant of the compressed LPG at Lalru on Saturday evening around 6 pm. This was an emergency scenario created by the Mohali district administration at the BPCL plant to check the preparedness of emergency response time under “Operation Shield” on Saturday evening.

The entire operation was supervised by a senior Anmol Singh Dhaliwal, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Rural Development). The mock drill planned here was to ascertain the emergency response procedures for rescuing individuals present at the site.

The mock drill included personnel of the Home Guards, civil defence, National Disaster Response Force, the local administration and fire-fighting and medical teams. After air raid siren was sounded, a rescue operation was immediately started as a part of the civil defence exercise to save civilians/workers stuck in the plant. The number of stranded persons was 20, who were rescued from inside by teams and rushed to designated health facilities via ambulances.

The main aim of the exercise was to be ready for any such emergency situations. At the end of the drill, shortcomings were also discussed at length to make the emergency response time faster.

SDM Amit Gupta said a blackout was held on Saturday night from 8 pm to 8.30 pm as a part of the mock drill in Dera Bassi and Lalru municipal limits barring emergency service establishments like hospitals and nursing homes. He said residents were made aware of the blackout exercise during the day time to abide by all precautions in order to replicate real-time emergency situations by switching off lights at their homes, vehicle lights and street lights.

Half-an-hour exercise in Fatehgarh Sahib

As per the government guidelines, a civil defence mock drill was conducted at the Deputy Commissioner Office complex in Fatehgarh Sahib today under the supervision of District Magistrate Dr Sona Thind. The civil administration, the police, Punjab Home Guards, fire fighters, health staff and NCC volunteers participated in this exercise. This exercise was conducted to check preparations to minimise damage in case a possible drone or missile attack by Pakistan.

Sirens were sounded after which the exercise began and lasted for around half-an-hour. People, who pretended to be injured during the drill, were provided first aid and sent to hospitals. Participants were also apprised about how to save people inside a building if it collapsed after a drone attack. Heads and staff of various departments were present during the drill.