New Delhi: A large-scale civil defence mock exercise was conducted across Delhi at 8 PM on April 2 to assess preparedness for emergency situations, including air raid scenarios and coordinated response mechanisms.
Blackout drill sequence
The drill was carried out at 13 locations across the national capital, with each district identifying at least one site for a simulated blackout. Key locations included Taj Palace Hotel, Omaxe Mall in Chandni Chowk, Madhukar Rainbow Children’s Hospital in Malviya Nagar, Kalka Apartments in Dwarka, and the SDM Office in Karol Bagh.
The exercise followed a structured sequence beginning with an Air Raid Warning “YELLOW” issued by the Air Force, indicating a possible threat and putting emergency agencies on alert. This was relayed from the Revenue Control and Disaster Communication Centre (RCDCC) to the State Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) and subsequently to district EOCs.
Red to green alerts
Following this, a “RED” alert was issued, signalling an imminent air raid. Sirens were sounded across districts for two minutes with a wailing sound, and authorities enforced a complete blackout. Movement of vehicles was halted, and people were advised to take shelter, preferably in underground spaces.
The final phase involved a “GREEN” alert, indicating that the threat had passed. Continuous sirens were sounded for two minutes to signal “all clear,” after which emergency services initiated simulated response actions, including firefighting, evacuation, first aid, and casualty management at hospitals.
The exercise involved multiple agencies, including Civil Defence, Delhi Police, Fire Services, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA).