Sirens sound as Delhi stages emergency drills

CHAOS SIMULATED, CALM TAUGHT

- OUR CORRESPONDENT

NEW DELHI: Blaring sirens, residents rushing to safer places, injured people being administered medical aid, these were some of the scenes witnessed across the 55 locations where mock security drills were conducted by authorities in the national capital.

Under the nationwide mega civil defence mock drill 'Operation Abhyaas', mock drills simulating multiple hostile scenarios like air raids, multiple fire emergencies, and search and rescue operations, among others, were carried out. Some of the prominent locations where the mock drill was conducted include Khan Market, NDMC building, Select Citywalk Mall in Saket, and Chandni Chowk.

PCR vans and fire engines were stationed at multiple locations while there was a heavy deployment of security personnel and civil defence volunteers.

At Khan Market, alarm sirens were played and people were asked to run as part of the evacuation drill that was carried out.

The drill was conducted in the parking area, where security forces, with support from the market associations and local residents, carried out a coordinated rescue operation. Shops No. 72, 64, 73 and a nearby fruit shop were used as part of the drill to simulate an emergency response.

In Shop No. 74, which is a shoe store, volunteers acted as casualties to help demonstrate how to handle injuries during a crisis. The police explained the steps to be taken in such situations, including how to safely shelter injured individuals inside the stores.

The drill also demonstrated the use of fire extinguishers and how teams could work from different points to control a fire. People were trained to remain calm, stay silent, and take shelter in one place during an emergency to avoid chaos and ensure a safer evacuation.

The NDRF team, along with personnel of other departments, also performed search and rescue techniques during the drill.