Mock Drills Planned in 8 Districts, Largest in Cross Maidan
CM Fadnavis: Drills Planned in Consultation with Union Home Secretary
Mumbai: In accordance with directions from the Centre, mock drills will be conducted by the state government in eight districts in Maharashtra including Mumbai at 4 pm on Wednesday. The union home secretary and chief minister have been consulted over the planning of the drills, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Tuesday.
“We can‘t disclose more information on the drills,” Fadnavis said.
Anupkumar Singh, special secretary (home), added drills would be conducted at Mumbai – the city and suburbs, Palghar, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Pune, Thane and Nashik. Civil defence director Prabhat Kumar added mock drills have been planned at different locations in the coastal districts. Cross Maidan in Mumbai will be the venue for the biggest such exercise, he added.
The drills would start with civil defence centers blowing sirens and citizens would be instructed on how to react to a war or war-like scenario, such as locating safe houses, Kumar added.
“Our volunteers will take part in the mock drill and instruct people on minimizing damage and going to hospitals. We want to make people ready for any eventuality,” Kumar said to Hindustan Times.
Civil defence authorities also stated citizens will be sensitized to seek shelter at safe areas and instructed on how to respond in the event of a war. Hospitals will be sensitized as well, they added.
In Mumbai, the mock drill will be conducted at the Gateway of India, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Shivaji Park and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. The Tarapur Atomic Power station in Palghar district will also conduct the drill. “We have made proper preparations for the drill,” said police commissioner Deven Bharti.
In Thane, a mock drill will be conducted at Kalyan, said Thane collector Ashok Shingare. In Ratnagiri, drills will be conducted at the collectorate, the jetty and Rajapur, said collector M Devender Singh. “Fisheries department officials, Maharashtra Maritime Board officials, Customs and Coast Guard officials will take part in the drill,” he added.
Sindhudurg collector Anil Patil announced that the drill would include blackout and siren use.
