Hyderabad to Hold Civil Defence Drill Today

Hyderabad: Hyderabad is all set to join the nationwide ‘Operation Abyas’, the drill to test civil defence preparedness, at 4 pm on Wednesday, in an exercise that will last 30 minutes, with air raid sirens set to be heard over the city for the first time in nearly 44 years. The last time the city heard these sirens was during the 1971 war with Pakistan.

On Wednesday, Hyderabad will join 295 CD (civil defence) cities and towns in 244 districts of the country in the civil defence drill. The drills are designed to simulate an incoming air raid, and actions to be taken by government departments and agencies, and steps to be taken by civilian population, in the event of an actual air raid by the enemy on the city.

Officials, who attended a video conference hosted by the Union ministry of home affairs on Tuesday on Operation Abhyas, said four areas in Hyderabad — Secunderabad Cantonment, Golconda Cantonment, Kanchanbagh, and Nacharam – were identified for the drills. The actual locations within these areas where the drills will be performed will be revealed to the agencies involved in the exercise only after the sounding of the sirens.

The South Central Railway said it would hold the drill at Kacheguda and some other stations.

As part of the drill, industrial sirens, police public address systems at junctions, announcements by patrol vehicles, and fire department alarms will be triggered simultaneously for two minutes at 4 pm across the city, within the Outer Ring Road limits, to alert residents to the beginning of an air raid alert. The all-clear will be given with a one-minute long siren at 4.30 pm.

This is an exercise, the first of several that are likely to follow, aimed at sensitising people. The most important thing for everyone to bear in mind is that no one should panic. This aspect holds good for the mock drills, as well as for any real-life event. The goal is to gear up for any hostile attack if such a thing occurs,” Director-General of Fire Services Y. Nagi Reddy, who is the head of Telangana’s civil defence, told Deccan Chronicle.

Though it will only be a drill, the actual locations of ‘air raid impact sites’ will be “made known” to the various agencies a few minutes after the sirens are sounded, to test and establish their reaction times and efficacy. To be involved in the drills and rushing to the ‘rescue’ will be personnel from the fire services, State Disaster Response Force, the police, and some other agencies, a senior government official said.

Since this is the first such civil defence event in more than four decades, around 12 agencies that will take part, will be meeting at 10.30 am, to prepare for the drill and the actual ‘air raid impact’ locations will be chosen in consultation with the police.

“The first few days of such drills, these will be limited to areas with less footfall and will avoid major public spots. Once our internal preparedness is gauged, drills in more crowded public areas will be introduced,” Hyderabad police commissioner C.V. Anand said.

As we make progress, more and more elements will be included along with participation of civilian volunteers as part of our civil defence preparation,” Nagi Reddy said.