15-minute blackout mock drill in Patna, 5 other districts today

Patna: The state govt will conduct a civil defence mock drill involving simulated air raid and blackout scenarios across six districts—Patna, Kishanganj, Begusarai, Purnia, Araria and Katihar—on Thursday. The directorate of civil defence is the nodal agency coordinating the exercise, following directives from the ministry of home affairs.Presiding over a review meeting on Wednesday, disaster management department principal secretary Santosh Kumar Mall urged residents to cooperate fully. He asked people to avoid using generators in apartment complexes and refrain from using cellphone screens, flashlights or any other light sources during the complete blackout from 7pm to 7.15pm.Mall said regular mock drills are essential to enhance public awareness and preparedness for emergencies and disasters. He also urged people not to panic during the 15-minute blackout period and directed officials to ensure hospital windows are covered with curtains or privacy screens during the exercise.He said sirens will sound across the six districts for 15 minutes and instructed district authorities to make proper arrangements for warning systems. Director general Paresh Saxena and disaster management officials from participating districts joined the meeting via video conference.Officials were also asked to coordinate with the energy department to ensure effective implementation of the blackout. Sirens may additionally be sounded through public address systems at intersections, police station equipment and fire brigade vehicles.During the meeting, Saxena briefed officials on operational procedures and explained the objectives of the mock drill. Bihar State Disaster Management Authority (BSDMA) vice-chairman Uday Kant, along with officials from the SDRF, NDRF, Railway Protection Force and district disaster management units, also attended the meeting.