Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Home Department convened a high-level meeting at Lok Seva Bhawan on Tuesday to finalize preparations for statewide civil defence mock drills, set to begin Wednesday, May 7. The drills aim to train citizens on safety measures during potential enemy air attacks, amid heightened national security concerns.
The meeting held in the presence of Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Satyabrata Sahu, and Director General of Odisha Fire Services, Sudhansu Sarangi, brought together senior officials from police, fire services, and other departments to devise a robust action plan.
Discussions centered on enhancing inter-agency coordination, optimizing response times, deploying resources effectively, and strengthening public communication during emergencies.
The week-long drills will cover 12 districts—Angul, Khordha, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Ganjam, Dhenkanal, Puri, Koraput, and Sundargarh—starting with urban areas and coastal zones. Sudhansu Sarangi explained, “A five-minute air raid warning siren will alert the public, signaling the start of the drill, with another siren marking its end. The goal is to educate citizens on seeking shelter in concrete buildings during an attack.”
The Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) will lead efforts in coastal areas, supported by around 4,000 Apada Mitra volunteers. District administrations will designate shelters for slum residents and mobilize NCC, NSS, local officials, and civil defence volunteers.
The drills will also assess post-attack preparedness, including managing injuries and extinguishing fires.
To ensure widespread awareness, district authorities will leverage public communication channels. Disaster Emergency Response Centres at state and district levels will be operational from Wednesday, coordinating with shelter homes and district response units.
The Ministry of Home Affairs noted that the exercise, planned up to the village level, seeks to enhance civil defence readiness across all states and union territories.
The initiative reflects Odisha’s proactive approach to safeguarding citizens amid escalating security concerns, ensuring preparedness for any contingency.
