Gujarat goes dark for civil defence drill

Ahmedabad: Lights went out across Gujarat on Wednesday evening as part of a state-mandated civil defence mock drill. In a rare sight, homes, offices, and even streetlights across 18 districts observed a planned blackout between 7.30pm and 9pm, with citizens voluntarily switching off their lights to simulate an emergency scenario.In residential societies, office-bearers sent out messages urging neighbours to join the exercise and refrain from turning on lights during the designated slot. In Ahmedabad, several housing societies plunged into darkness between 8:30 pm and 9 pm. As the blackout ended, cries of "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" rang out, adding a patriotic fervour to the night.Streetlights along several roads were turned off for half an hour, and many residents took the exercise seriously. However, the blackout wasn't total. Some areas, including construction sites, malls, billboards, and restaurants, remained brightly lit. Sharp-eyed citizens flagged these violations on social media, tagging officials. Among the spots called out were a construction site at Vaishnodevi Circle and a mall on Ghatlodia Road. TOI observed that while Ellis Bridge went dark on time, Sardar Bridge's lights stayed on until 8.50pm. Advertising hoardings and eateries near VS Hospital also remained illuminated.The phased blackout saw districts like Dang, Bharuch, Navsari, Narmada, Surat, Vadodara, and Tapi go dark from 7.30 to 8pm. Jamnagar, Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, Gir Somnath, and Morbi followed from 8 to 8.30pm, while Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Banaskantha, Patan, Mehsana, and Bhavnagar switched off lights from 8.30 to 9pm.