Civil defence drills, a first since 1971, to keep happening periodically
The civil defence exercise includes around a dozen services such as firefighting, rescue, corpse disposal, welfare, and taking care of casualties
Around 300 towns in 244 civil defence districts, identified as vulnerable in the wake of growing India-Pakistan tensions following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, have been earmarked for a mock drill on Wednesday (May 7). And such drills will keep happening at regular intervals.
Incidentally, the last such drills happened in the country at the time of the 1971 war with Pakistan.
Three categories of vulnerable districts
The towns and districts have been divided into three categories depending on their level of vulnerability. The first category has around a dozen districts, while the second one constitutes around 200 towns or districts, and the third category has around 70 towns or districts.
All these districts are either in border areas or have vital installations such as nuclear plants, hydro projects or military bases.
Also read: Blackouts, war-like emergency exercises: What will Centre’s May 7 mock drill entail?
Wednesday’s drill will help the Union and state governments check the preparedness of the civil defence infrastructure, sources told The Federal. “It will help the administration identify gaps in the preparedness and take appropriate remedial measures. These drills will keep happening at regular intervals,” said a source.
States told to send reports
The civil defence exercise includes around a dozen services such as firefighting, rescue, corpse disposal, welfare, and taking care of casualties.
The Union home secretary on Tuesday (May 6) chaired a meeting, attended by top security and disaster management officials from across the country, to review the preparations for Wednesday’s drill. Under the plan, the preparedness will be checked at the level of the state as well as the district.
The states have been told to send reports about the conduct of the drill to the Union home ministry. They have been asked to set up an implementation committee and assess the vulnerable areas in their respective jurisdictions. They have to check the vacancy levels in their civil defence infrastructure and fill it accordingly.
Also read: How two Asims brought their country Pakistan to the brink of war
What states have to do
The states also need to see if their civil defence plans need an update, especially with regard to evacuation and emergency services. They have been asked to look for the availability of adequate emergency services such as fire containment and medical facilities and ensure the necessary supply of food.
Sources said if the states want, they can add more districts or towns beyond the already identified vulnerable areas for Wednesday’s drill.
Another major aspect of the drill is to check air raid warning systems by the states in all the vulnerable districts. Besides drills for blackout, camouflaging vital installations is also going to be part of the exercise.
Also read: Is LeT involved? UNSC slams Pakistan over Pahalgam attack
Task for districts
At the level of districts, civil defence control rooms are to be operationalised, which will work round the clock. They will also check whether civil defence sirens work properly. The district administrations have been asked to maintain air raid shelters and bunkers with proper supply.
They also will have to identify safe buildings within their jurisdictions for evacuated persons. The district administration will also check whether all civil defence volunteers are in proper uniform and take measures to prevent its misuse. They also have to update plans for digging trenches, if required.
