PANAJI
As the Union government prepares for a nationwide civil defence drill on Wednesday, both districts of Goa have been designated as ‘civil defence districts’ in the full-scale preparedness exercise.
The drill, organised in the wake of the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, is part of a wider initiative by the Ministry of Home Affairs to boost nationwide readiness against what officials described as “new and complex threats.” The exercise will be conducted in North Goa’s Panaji and South Goa’s Mormugao, Vasco, Dabolim and the Harbour.
Officials confirmed to The Goan that local police, administrative units and various State departments have received instructions to coordinate efforts during the drill. Among the key features of the operation will be the activation of air raid sirens and civil defence training for civilians and students, according to sources within the Ministry.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday announced that a comprehensive plan for the drills had been finalised, involving Civil Defence Services, National Cadet Corps (NCC), National Service Scheme (NSS), Home Guard personnel, Aapda Mitra volunteers, and members of the general public. Residents in affected areas will be notified ahead of time to avoid panic.
“The primary focus will be on testing the use of sirens in the event of a communication breakdown,” he said.
The State Disaster Response Teams including the Collectorates, Goa police including the coastal police, Directorate of Fire & Emergency Services, Public Works Department, and other agencies, held a crucial meeting for the exercise.
Sawant linked the initiative to historic civil preparedness efforts while referring to the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war. “This is the first time such a large-scale coordinated civil defence exercise is taking place under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. We hope such a crisis never comes to pass, but we must be ready,” he said as he called on citizens to remain calm and cooperative during the drill and to follow official safety guidelines.
Sources said that the vital installations including the public areas, will be under close vigil, even as dog squads and bomb detection units will also be placed on alert. Authorities will also be testing the operational readiness of emergency equipment and communication systems.
