Ceasefire In Place, Civil Defence Drills Suspended

Nagpur: Following the announcement of immediate India and Pakistan ceasefire, all civil defence drills and emergency preparedness activities in Nagpur division were suspended until further notice.Divisional commissioner Vijayalakshmi Bidari confirmed that mock drills, blackout exercises, and other heightened civil defence measures were put on hold."In view of the ceasefire now being in effect, all mock drills and blackout drills that were planned due to the recent tensions are hereby suspended," she told TOI and clarified that the current suspension is conditional and temporary. "Civil defence activities that were recently intensified across the region have also been suspended for the time being," Bidari added.Against the backdrop of growing cross-border tensionsover the past week, civil defence authorities implemented a range of precautionary measures like mobilising personnel, conducting public awareness drills, activating control rooms, and issuing alerts to local bodies for blackout and emergency preparedness. "Any heightened state of alert, specific instructions issued to the public, and increased activities of civil defence personnel are also put on hold," Bidari said."It's important for people to understand that this decision is based on the present situation. The future course will depend on sustained adherence to ceasefire and progress in bilateral talks," she noted.The divisional administration will continue to monitor the security situation closely in coordination with central and state agencies. If signs of renewed tension or ceasefire violations, the authorities are prepared to immediately reinstate all necessary civil defence measures to ensure public safety.Bidari urged citizens to remain informed through official channels and not to fall prey to rumours or misinformation. "We are committed to ensuring the safety and preparedness of the public, and any change in the situation will be communicated promptly," she added.Earlier in the afternoon, district collector Dr Vipin Itankar told the media that they were planning multi-agency individual and collective mock drills, including evacuation simulations, communication chain checks, blackout protocols, and emergency medical response rehearsals, as part of the ongoing preparedness measures. He said selected sensitive zones are being mapped for quick mobilisation. "Police, fire services, medical teams, and civil defence volunteers will jointly participate to test coordination and response time," he said."The collector's actions were before the announcement of the ceasefire. We will follow the instructions from state and central government," Bidari said.