ONL Bureau: A 7-day mock drill will begin at 12 districts on Wednesday to prepare for possible wartime situation, Director General of Fire & Emergency Services Sudhanshu Sarangi informed on Tuesday.
Air raid warning sirens will be activated for around 5 minutes at 4 pm during the civil defence mock drills in Angul, Khurda, Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Ganjam, Jagatsinghpur, Dhenkanal, Puri, Koraput, and Sundargarh districts.
“Tomorrow, we will carry out the mock drills in several urban areas of the state. In coastal areas, the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) will use its sirens meant for natural disasters. There is no war-like situation currently, the drills are a precautionary measure to prepare the public for any possible ariel threats. We advise the public to take shelter under any concrete roof during this period,” The DG said.
The exercise is being done amid heightening tensions between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. A preparatory meeting was also chaired by the Chief Secretary in this regard.
Sarangi further stated that people living in Kutcha house will be relocated. “The district administrations have been asked to identify safe shelters for slum dwellers. The mock drills will be gradually extended from urban areas to rural areas over the week. In case of an air attack, the civil defence volunteers will blow sirens again, indicating that the attack is over. Their response to the post-attack situation will also be assessed,” the official said.
He further stated that National Cadet Corps (NCC), National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers, Apada Mitra, and regional voluntary organisations will also be mobilised for the mock drill.
The DG added that control rooms in connection with the preparedness will be set up at the state and district levels.
OSDMAS director Kamal Lochan Mishra further elaborated that people are required to move to nearest concrete shelters on hearing the siren. “The drill will continue for 30 minutes during which we expect cooperation from people since it is being held to prepare them for any eventualities. It will end when the siren is blown again following which people can come out of their houses. Emergency services will remain unaffected during this period. OSDMAS will respond as required to Kalbaisakhi too,” he added.
The sirens along the state’s 480-km coastline will be used for the purpose. “We have volunteers at the cyclone shelters and they will exhibit their skills during the mock drill. There will be no evacuation,” he added.
(Syndicated News Feed)