Uttar Pradesh to Experience Statewide Blackout in Mock Emergency Drill
At 6 PM on Friday, a planned "blackout" will sweep across all 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh as part of a comprehensive mock drill organized by state authorities. This exercise, scheduled to last approximately 10 minutes, aims to evaluate and enhance emergency response capabilities throughout India's most populous state.
Purpose and Significance of the Drill
Officials have clarified that the primary objective of this large-scale simulation is to check emergency preparedness across multiple departments and agencies. The drill holds special significance as it coincides with two important occasions: UP Diwas and the birth anniversary of the legendary freedom fighter, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
The Civil Defence Department of Uttar Pradesh is leading this initiative in close collaboration with several key organizations including:
- District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMA)
- State Disaster Response Force (SDRF)
- Fire Services Department
- Police Department
- Health Department
- Other related emergency response units
Detailed Procedure of the Mock Drill
According to the official procedure issued by Sanyukta Samaddar, Principal Secretary of Civil Defence, the drill will follow a specific sequence of events:
- Initial Siren Phase: An air raid siren will sound for two minutes, alternating between high and low pitches. Immediately upon hearing this siren, power supply to all designated areas will be deliberately cut off. Citizens are strongly advised to take shelter in safe places during this phase.
- All-Clear Signal: Following the simulated threat period, the siren will sound again at full volume for two minutes to signal that the mock air raid threat has concluded.
- Response Demonstration: Civil Defence Volunteers and firefighting teams will then conduct practical demonstrations, including using fire extinguishers to put out controlled fires and providing simulated first aid to "casualties." Each district administration has identified specific locations where these demonstrations will occur under the supervision of senior officials.
District-Level Implementation and Public Cooperation
District administrations across Uttar Pradesh have received detailed instructions about conducting this drill effectively. Rajendra Kumar, ADM Revenue of Muzaffarnagar, confirmed that his district will participate fully, with the main demonstration taking place at DAV College. He specifically mentioned that electricity supply to the entire city will be temporarily disconnected during the drill and appealed to residents to voluntarily switch off all lights in their homes to enhance the realism of the exercise.
A senior officer from the Uttar Pradesh Civil Defence Department revealed that initial instructions for this drill were issued to all districts and relevant departments as early as January 5. Following the completion of today's exercise, each participating district and department will be required to submit detailed reports to the state government for evaluation and future planning.
To ensure maximum public awareness and cooperation, district administrations have been directed to make necessary announcements through various channels, informing residents about the timing, purpose, and expected duration of the blackout. This transparency aims to prevent unnecessary panic while achieving the drill's objectives of testing infrastructure, coordination between agencies, and public response during simulated emergency conditions.
