Civil Defence Mock Drills Held Across Odisha Amid Rising Tensions

Bhubaneswar: As tensions with Pakistan continue to escalate, civil defence mock drills were conducted across several Indian states on Wednesday, including Odisha, to prepare civilians for potential hostile attacks.

The nationwide exercise was held at 4 PM in 244 districts, including 12 locations in Odisha such as Bhubaneswar, Balasore, Koraput, Gopalpur, Hirakud, Paradip, Rourkela, Bhadrak, Dhenkanal, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, and Talcher.

The drills began with the sounding of the first air-raid siren and concluded after the second. Loud war sirens—audible over a range of 2 to 5 km and producing a distinct 120–140 decibel tone—alerted civilians to simulated threats.

In Bhubaneswar, police, fire services, and National Cadet Corps (NCC) teams participated in scenarios including air raids, bomb blasts, and fire emergencies.

“This mock drill is a rehearsal of how rescue teams will respond during emergencies to save lives,” said Commissioner of Police S. Devdutt Singh.

The initiative aimed to raise public awareness and readiness, equipping citizens with basic knowledge on how to act swiftly and safely during wartime or crisis situations.