Bhubaneswar: In a significant move to bolster public safety and emergency response capabilities, the Odisha State Government today conducted extensive civil defence mock drills across 12 key districts at precisely 4:00 PM. The initiative, mandated by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), aimed to simulate air raid scenarios and enhance preparedness among citizens and response agencies.
The simultaneous mock drills took place in strategically important locations including Bhubaneswar (Khurda district), Hirakud (Sambalpur), Talcher (Angul), Balasore, Rourkela (Sundargarh), Paradip (Jagatsinghpur), Koraput, Gopalpur (Ganjam), Bhadrak, Puri, Dhenkanal, and Kendrapara. Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Home, Satyabrata Sahu, is seen actively monitoring the entire mock drill management across the state.
The groundwork for this large-scale exercise was laid following a high-level preparatory meeting on May 6th, chaired by ACS Home Shri Sahu, after a virtual briefing by the MHA with all states. Speaking to the media yesterday, Director General of Fire Service, Sudhansu Sarangi, underscored the MHA’s directive for all states, including Odisha, to conduct the mock drill at the designated time.
DG Shri Sarangi further revealed that the preparedness drive would extend beyond today, continuing for a week and reaching the village level. While the Fire Service department is spearheading the drills in urban centers, the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) is taking charge in coastal regions, commencing today.
The primary focus of these mock exercises is to generate widespread public awareness regarding air raid protocols and to educate citizens on crucial self-protection measures during aerial attacks. “The air raid sirens will blare for nearly 5 minutes at 4 pm on Wednesday. We request the people to take shelter in concrete roof buildings when the siren blares,” DG Shri Sarangi urged the public. He also mentioned that designated shelter homes would be identified for residents of slum areas.
Furthermore, today’s drills included practicing rescue and response procedures in the aftermath of a simulated attack. Plans are also underway to operationalize state and district-level control rooms as an integral part of these preparedness measures.
Reassuring the citizens, DG Shri Sarangi emphasized, “There is no need to panic. It will be a mock drill just like OSDMA conducts cyclone mock drills in coastal areas. It will be conducted to make people prepared to deal with any such situation.”
Executive Director of OSDMA, Kamol Lochan Mishra, confirmed the wide-ranging participation in the exercise, including students from schools and colleges. The successful execution of today’s mock drills marks a significant step by the OdishaGgovernment towards enhancing the state’s resilience and ensuring the safety and security of its citizens in the face of potential threats.