Anantnag, Ganderbal, Kupwara to conduct air raid, mock drills on Thursday, Friday

Srinagar, Apr 22: In a move aimed at strengthening emergency preparedness, the district administrations of Anantnag, Ganderbal, and Kupwara in Kashmir have announced civil defence air raid mock drills, along with brief nighttime blackout exercises, urging residents to cooperate and follow safety protocols.

According to official notifications, Anantnag and Ganderbal districts will carry out the mock drill on April 23 while Kupwara district will conduct a similar exercise a day later on April 24.

The daytime drill is scheduled to begin at 3:30 pm, followed by a blackout exercise from 8 pm to 8:10 pm.

Officials said the initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance disaster response readiness and ensure that both citizens and local authorities are well-prepared to respond effectively during emergencies, including potential air raid scenarios or other crisis situations.

As part of the advisory, residents have been instructed to immediately switch off all lights and sources of illumination once the siren is sounded during the blackout period.

This includes household lighting, inverters, solar-powered lights, mobile flashlights, and vehicle headlights.

People have also been asked to draw curtains or cover windows to prevent any light from being visible outside.

Authorities emphasised the importance of maintaining calm during the exercise and avoiding panic, noting that the drill is purely precautionary and meant for training purposes.

“Public cooperation is critical for the success of such preparedness activities,” an official said.

Special attention has been advised for vulnerable groups, including elderly persons, children, and those with medical conditions, to ensure they do not experience distress during the blackout simulation.

Residents have also been encouraged to keep essential items like emergency lights, basic medical kits, and communication devices readily accessible.

The administrations further clarified that all essential and emergency services, including hospitals, ambulance services, and law enforcement operations, will remain fully functional during the drills.

Security and civil defence teams are expected to monitor the exercise closely, assessing response times, coordination mechanisms, and public adherence to instructions.

Officials said that such drills play a crucial role in identifying gaps in preparedness and improving response strategies.

The initiative comes as part of ongoing efforts to build a resilient emergency response framework across districts, ensuring that communities are better equipped to handle unforeseen situations with coordination and discipline.

An official spokesman said that Ganderbal is gearing up for a Civil Defence mock drill on Wednesday.

He said that the ADC had finalised arrangements.

The spokesman said that the exercise would simulate an air raid and district-wide blackout at GDC Ganderbal, involving SDRF, FRTs, medical teams, NCC cadets, and Traffic Police.