Odisha Conducts Civil Defence Mock Drills in 12 Districts Amid Heightened Alert

As part of efforts to bolster emergency preparedness amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan, civil defence mock drills were conducted across 12 districts of Odisha on Wednesday, officials confirmed.

Major urban centres including Bhubaneswar, Sambalpur, and Rourkela participated in the coordinated drills, which aimed to assess the readiness of local authorities and civil defence forces in the event of a national emergency.

At Raj Bhavan Square in Bhubaneswar, sirens were sounded for five minutes starting at 4 PM, signaling the commencement of the exercise. Officials said the drill simulated various emergency scenarios, including air raids and civilian evacuations, to test public awareness and coordination between agencies.

“The objective was to review our current response capabilities and raise public consciousness about safety protocols during crises,” said a senior official from the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA).

These drills are part of a nationwide alert preparedness campaign, and local authorities stressed that they are precautionary in nature, not a cause for alarm. Public participation and cooperation were reported to be satisfactory across the districts involved.

Officials reiterated that Odisha remains committed to ensuring the safety and resilience of its citizens through proactive planning, training, and coordination with national agencies.