Shivamogga conducts air raid safety mock drill to boost preparedness

Shivamogga: As part of national defence preparedness and emergency response training, an air raid safety mock drill will be organised in Shivamogga city on June 5 at 5pm.

The drill aims to create public awareness regarding safety protocols to be followed during an aerial attack and assess the readiness of various govt departments. Additional deputy commissioner (ADC) Abhishek V and additional superintendent of police (ASP) Kariyappa urged locals not to panic, emphasising that this is purely a training exercise.

Speaking at a preparatory meeting, on Thursday, the officials detailed the safety measures for air raids and 'Dark Night' scenarios.

The ADC stated that the ministry of home affairs (MHA) has directed the conduct of national-level mock drills on civil defence, air raids and 'Dark Night' scenarios for the 2026. In accordance with these guidelines, the district-level mock drill has been scheduled for Friday evening at Nehru Stadium.

The primary objective of this exercise is to practically test how to safely evacuate citizens to secure locations during an unexpected air raid or emergency, how to provide immediate medical assistance to the injured, and how different departments can seamlessly coordinate with each other. The drill will be conducted with the combined coordination of district disaster management authority, home guards, police department, fire and emergency services, civil defence volunteers, NCC, CMC, health department and KSRTC, among others.

During the drill, a two-minute siren signalling a simulated air raid warning will be sounded. Citizens are requested not to panic upon hearing the siren. Officials reiterated that this is an artificial training process designed to build confidence among the public. The exercise will involve movement of fire engines, police vehicles and ambulances. It will feature live demonstrations of evacuating people to safer areas, search and rescue operations, and administering first aid before transporting the injured to hospitals. The administration added that this is a routine preparedness exercise, and the public is welcome to watch.

ASP Kariyappa instructed officials from all participating departments and organisations to execute their assigned responsibilities meticulously.