Srinagar: District administrations across Kashmir have announced civil defence mock drills, including simulated air raid and blackout exercises, as part of efforts to strengthen emergency preparedness and public safety.
In Anantnag district a civil defence air raid mock drill will be conducted on April 23, with a blackout exercise scheduled from 8:00 pm to 8:10 pm.
The drill, including a daytime simulation, is aimed at familiarising residents with emergency response protocols and assessing preparedness of both the public and administration.
Officials have advised people to switch off all lights and sources of illumination, including inverters, mobile lights and vehicle lights, immediately after sirens sound at 8 pm.
Residents have also been asked to draw curtains to prevent light emissions and avoid panic, as the exercise is only a drill.
A similar mock drill has been scheduled in Kupwara district on April 24, where authorities will conduct a civil defence air raid simulation in the afternoon followed by a 10-minute blackout exercise in the evening.
The district administration has issued detailed guidelines, asking residents to cooperate, ensure vulnerable groups such as elderly and children are prepared, and follow instructions during the drill. Emergency and critical services will remain operational.
Meanwhile, in Ganderbal district, the administration has finalised arrangements for a large-scale mock drill scheduled for Thursday. The exercise will simulate an air raid and district-wide blackout at Government Degree College (GDC) Ganderbal.
Officials said multiple agencies, including the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), first response teams, medical units, NCC cadets and traffic police, will participate in the drill.
The exercise aims to evaluate coordination among agencies and improve readiness to respond to emergencies, officials said.
Authorities across districts have emphasised that the drills are part of routine preparedness measures and urged the public not to panic.
They said public cooperation is essential to ensure the success of the exercises and to build a more alert and resilient response system in the region—(KNO)
