A large-scale civil defence mock drill will be conducted in Hyderabad on Wednesday (May 7, 2025) as part of a nationwide preparedness exercise code-named ‘Operation Abhyaas’. The drill would be conducted from 4.00 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. across the city within the Outer Ring Road (ORR) limits and will involve 12 Civil Defence services including police, fire, rescue, medical, and municipal departments.
School students take shelter during mock drills in Jammu on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: Channi Anand
Sirens at 4 p.m.
At 4 p.m., sirens will be activated citywide to simulate the onset of an air raid. These will include industrial sirens, police public address systems, fire engine sirens, and announcements via patrol vehicles. The sirens will sound for two minutes to initiate the mock scenario.
Response expected from public
Following the alert, the public is expected to participate by seeking immediate shelter, turning off electrical and gas appliances, and remaining indoors until further instructions. The authorities have urged citizens to follow only official sources for updates and not to circulate or act upon unverified information.
The drill would be carried out under the guidelines of the Civil Defence Act, 1968, which mandates regular preparedness activities to equip civil administrations and the public in the event of a hostile attack. It aims to assess the coordination among departments, raise public awareness, and improve response protocols in the event of an actual emergency. Hyderabad is among 244 districts identified as vulnerable by the Government of India.
4.15 p.m.
At 4.15 p.m., the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) would simulate impact reports of air raids at four different locations in the city. Emergency services will be deployed to these sites by 4.20 p.m. Police teams will secure the areas, assist in crowd control, and facilitate rescue operations.
Fire and rescue services would conduct simulated firefighting and search operations, while Disaster Response Forces would clear debris and aid in casualty evacuation. Medical teams would carry out triage, provide first aid, and shift mock casualties to temporary hospitals. Transport services would move evacuated residents to designated shelters while Revenue, Civil Supplies, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and other local bodies would be ready to provide immediate relief to the public at the safe shelters.
Though blackout measures are part of the drill, they would be not implemented since the drill is scheduled before sunset. However the measures would be explained to people: streetlights, building lights, and illuminated signs to turned off. Windows have to be covered to prevent light from escaping, and vehicle headlights should be dimmed or shielded. Critical infrastructure has to be camouflaged as part of the drill.
The operation would conclude at 4.30 p.m. with another round of sirens marking the end of the exercise. Authorities have requested public cooperation throughout the drill.
Published - May 06, 2025 05:37 pm IST
