Why Blackout Mock Drills Are Being Held in Punjab on April 24

A blackout mock drill will be held on Friday, April 24, at 8 pm in select areas of Punjab, including Ludhiana and Amritsar. The exercise has been ordered by the Ministry of Home Affairs as part of efforts to assess civil defence preparedness for emergency situations.

The drill is designed to simulate conditions such as air raids and power outages to evaluate how effectively authorities and citizens respond during a crisis scenario. Mock Drill on Hostile Attack in Delhi at 8 PM Today? Here’s the Fact Check of the Viral Notice.

Why Punjab Is Conducting a Blackout Mock Drill on April 24

Officials have said the primary objective is to test coordination among emergency response agencies and improve readiness for unforeseen situations. The exercise will help evaluate response systems, communication networks, and public awareness during simulated emergencies.

Authorities have requested full cooperation from residents, including participation in the blackout procedure by switching off lights during the drill period. ‘Lawrence of Punjab’: Congress MP Amrinder Singh Raja Warring To File PIL Against OTT Series (See Post).

How the Drill Will Be Conducted

The exercise will take place in areas including Pytex Ground in Ranjit Avenue (Amritsar), Punjab Agricultural University, and parts of Aggar Nagar under the PSPCL division in Ludhiana.

At around 7:55 pm, an air raid siren will be sounded, followed by public announcements. The blackout will begin at 8 pm and continue until 8:15 pm, during which electricity supply in designated areas will be temporarily switched off. An “All Clear” signal, consisting of a continuous siren for two minutes, will mark the end of the exercise.

The drill will involve coordination among multiple agencies, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), police, fire services, health department, municipal bodies, and civil defence units. Support from NCC volunteers and district administration teams will also be part of the operation.

Simulated activities will include firefighting, rescue operations, first aid response, and traffic management exercises.

Civil defence drills are periodically conducted across states in India to ensure preparedness for emergency scenarios such as natural disasters or security threats. These exercises aim to strengthen coordination between agencies and improve public response during critical situations.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 22, 2026 06:19 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).