Delhi preps for exigencies in Op Abhyas

The wail of sirens cut through the air across 55 locations in Delhi, echoing a call to action. Simulating everything from air raids to building collapses and fires, the drills plunged the national capital into a frenzy of coordinated chaos.

- HT Correspondents

drill, valuable lessons In south Delhi, the exercise at Select City Walk Mall began at 4.50pm, nearly an hour later than scheduled. Over 50 participants from various agencies, including Delhi Police, DFS, Civil Defence, and NCC cadets, participated in the drill. Unlike other locations, the public was not allowed entry into the drill area. The exercise took place in a cordoned-off section outside the mall, designed to ensure the smooth passage of fire trucks and ambulances.

One elderly couple, who had come to witness the drill, expressed their disappointment at being barred from the area. "My daughter informed me about the drill today. In the event of an unfortunate incident, it will be ordinary citizens who are helping each other, long before the volunteers arrive. If you don't allow us to see the drill and learn basic first aid procedures, how will it help?" said Shashi, a 68-year-old from south Delhi.

Other drills were conducted across south Delhi, at locations including Birla Vidya Niketan, Pushp Vihar, and the District Courts Complex in Saket.

Central Delhi: A high-risk market in the spotlight In bustling Chandni Chowk, the sirens from a fire tender pierced the air at 4pm, signalling the start of the disaster management exercise. The drill simulated an air raid and police personnel, NCC cadets, dog squads, and health-care workers worked in tandem to rescue injured individuals. The drill lasted over an hour and focused on assessing response times and inter-agency coordination.

During the exercise, four people were "injured," and while three were rescued and rushed to makeshift hospitals for first-aid, one was declared "dead" after being evaluated by health-care personnel.

At least 48 Civil Defence volunteers, 19 NCC cadets, 17 traffic police personnel, 16 police officers, six dog squads participated in the drill.