Civil defence exercise ‘Operation Shield’ conducted across Kashmir
Srinagar: Mock drills under Operation Shield were conducted across Kashmir valley on Saturday to test and strengthen the preparedness for emergency situations, officials said.
As part of the mock drill, a blackout was observed from 8 pm to 8:15 pm as lights of government buildings, houses and business establishments were turned off, they said.
In Srinagar, lights were turned off in the Lal Chowk City centre, including the historic Ghanta Ghar (Clock Tower), as well, the officials said.
The exercise was aimed at familiarising citizens with emergency response protocols during blackout or crisis situations and to evaluate the readiness of the public and the administration.
Business activities, vehicular movement and routine operations were paused for the 15-minute duration, they added.
The civil defence mock drills, under the banner of Operation Shield, conducted by District Administrations in collaboration with SDRF and Civil Defence, aimed at strengthening the preparedness for emergency situations, the officials said.
Experts and personnel from SDRF, Health Department, Fire and Emergency Services, along with a large number of students and locals participated in the exercises, they said.
The exercises involved demonstrations of rapid response tactics, simulated rescue operations, and real-time coordination between various emergency services, they added.
The demonstrations emphasised the importance of timely, well-coordinated responses to minimize casualties and damage, the officials said.
The exercise took place in presence of the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Dr. Bilal Mohi-Ud-Din Bhat who is also the Chairman of District Disaster Management Authority in bolstering readiness and addressing critical gaps to handle emergencies and ensure the safety of critical installations and residents in Srinagar District.
Personnel from multiple Civil Defence services participated in the Mock Drill as part of the nationwide exercise to test and strengthen the preparedness.
The ‘Operation Shield’ has been designed to simulate hostile situations, including air raid sirens, blackout protocols, and various emergency response actions, to evaluate the preparedness of civil authorities, emergency services, and local populations.
The Drill was also aimed to replicate real-time scenarios that may arise from potential external threats, any troublesome circumstances besides measures being taken to further strengthen the Civil Defence mechanisms, ensuring security of critical infrastructure and citizen safety.
The Drill is expected to significantly improve inter-agency coordination, public awareness, and the ability of the administration to respond swiftly and efficiently in the event of any hostile act or natural disasters and test the effectiveness of safety protocols. (with inputs from PTI)
