Hisar, Bhiwani & Jind districts check disaster preparedness

A civil defence mock drill was conducted under “Operation Shield” in Hisar, Bhiwani and Jind districts on Saturday evening. It was part of disaster preparedness in states bordering Pakistan. The drill took place on the premises of the Mini- Secretariat and involved 500 participants, including trained civil defence personnel, police, fire brigade, ambulance services, and Red Cross volunteers besides students and youth volunteers.

The mock drill started with a siren to indicate disaster situations in public areas of the Mini-Secretariat complex. Participants practiced taking cover under desks and shelters within office rooms to ensure safety during emergencies. The exercise also included transporting mock-injured victims from the simulated disaster site to hospitals with the help of ambulances and the police. All power and ongoing work activities were halted during the mock drill.

Deputy Commissioner Mahabir Kaushik said the drill aimed at training the participants on how to respond promptly in adverse situations. The arrival and coordination of emergency services—ambulance, police, fire brigade—were also practiced during the drill.

Kaushik said 20 individuals received mock injuries and were transported to the Civil Hospital, where the Red Cross arranged 30 units of dummy blood on the spot. The drill also included scenarios resembling missile or other large-scale attacks to assess public and administrative response capabilities.

The drill was aimed at evaluating the preparedness and effectiveness of emergency services and to raise public awareness. The authorities emphasised that there was no need to panic as it was purely an awareness exercise. The mock drill was also conducted in Hisar and Jind districts simultaneously.