Chandigarh, April 23
Punjab will carry out a statewide blackout mock drill on April 24 at 8 pm to assess preparedness for emergency situations such as air raids, with authorities directing residents in selected areas to switch off non-essential lights while essential services remain operational.
According to official directives, the exercise will begin with an air-raid warning siren, followed by a temporary blackout in identified areas across all districts. Residents have been asked to switch off all non-essential lighting during the drill period, while services such as hospitals, police, and emergency response units will continue to function without disruption.
Emergency response teams will simultaneously conduct coordinated simulations, including fire response, search and rescue, first aid and medical assistance, evacuation procedures, and traffic and crowd management. The exercise is aimed at evaluating coordination among various agencies and testing response efficiency in real-time scenarios.
An “All Clear” siren will mark the end of the drill, signalling the restoration of normal conditions.
The state government has appealed to the public not to panic, stating that the exercise is a routine safety measure intended to strengthen civil defence preparedness.
In Faridkot, the mock drill will be conducted at Dr Hari Singh Sewak Senior Secondary School. Deputy Commissioner Punamdeep Kaur has urged residents to cooperate fully with the administration and adhere to the guidelines during the exercise.
Officials said the findings from the drill will help authorities identify gaps in response mechanisms and improve coordination for handling future emergencies.
