Blackout Exercise was conducted in Patna on May 14, 2026. Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui
By A Correspondent
Patna: A city-wide civil defence mock drill simulating an air raid, along with a scheduled blackout, was successfully conducted across urban areas of Patna district on May 14, 2026, following government directives.
The exercise saw active participation from multiple agencies, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Civil Defence, Fire Services, Health Department, NCC, police, traffic authorities, and members of civil society. All stakeholders in disaster management contributed significantly to the operation.
Six key scenarios were designed for the drill: air raid early warning systems, blackout measures, evacuation and sheltering, search and rescue operations, medical response and casualty evacuation, and firefighting.
Between 3:00 pm and 4:00 pm, mock drills were conducted under the supervision of the Patna District Magistrate at four simulation sites — Patna Collectorate, Biscomaun Bhawan, Bankipur Bus Stand, and IGIMS. The exercise assessed the effectiveness of administrative systems in handling relief, rescue, and rehabilitation during emergencies.
At these sites, four major scenarios — evacuation and sheltering, search and rescue, medical response with casualty evacuation, and firefighting — were carried out as per standard operating procedures. Gandhi Maidan served as the staging area and incident command centre for the operation.
Later in the evening, at 6:58 pm, an air raid warning was issued from the Air Force control room. A civil defence siren sounded for two minutes, following which a complete blackout was observed from 7:00 pm to 7:15 pm. Residents switched off lights in homes, shops, warehouses, establishments, and vehicles, while essential services continued uninterrupted. The public participated in the exercise with notable enthusiasm.
The District Magistrate Dr. Thiyagarajan S.M. stated that such mock drills are conducted at least twice a year in line with government instructions to strengthen civil defence preparedness. Similar exercises were also held last year and were deemed successful.
On this occasion, air raid mock drills and blackout exercises were carried out in six districts across the state, including Patna. The District Magistrate emphasised that these programmes are highly beneficial for the public, as they help ensure the efficiency of response systems during real emergencies.
He added that the administration remains fully prepared to safeguard citizens during any disaster, including floods, droughts, or earthquakes, and is always alert, proactive, and committed to public safety.
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