AP to Hold Mock Drill in Vizag Today

Visakhapatnam: Visakhapatnam is set to host a massive and comprehensive mock drill on Wednesday as part of a nationwide emergency preparedness exercise being conducted across 244 districts. This is the first such large-scale drill since the 1971 war, after which India played a key role in the liberation of Bangladesh.

District collector M.N. Harinder Prasad said the weekly exercise would involve multiple departments, including Fire Services, Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC), electricity department, police, revenue, and the Navy. However, officials from the Eastern Naval Command clarified that they were not involved in this exercise, as it is being conducted solely under the direction of the Union Home Ministry to the state government.

Deputy director of the Civil Defence Organisation, Appini Madhusudhana Rao, informed that sirens would be activated at key locations such as State Bank of India, Old Post Office, Andhra Medical College Women’s Hostel, King George Hospital, DRM’s Office in Dondaparthy, Rose Hills, Visakhapatnam Port Trust, and Andhra University’s out-gate.

The drill is scheduled from 4 pm to 7.30 pm, with the core activity centered in Old Town, a sensitive area near the Naval Dockyard and the Port. Power supply to the entire Old Town area will be cut off at 7 pm, and over 2,000 residents will be instructed to remain indoors throughout the exercise. The scenario will also simulate emergency evacuations and first aid services, including transporting affected individuals to King George Hospital.

A command control centre will monitor all operations in real time. Participants include civil defence wardens, home guards, NCC and NSS volunteers, and students from various educational institutions, although Andhra University stated it had not received any official communication regarding student participation.

After the drill, all states and union territories must submit action taken reports highlighting response gaps and recommendations.