JAISALMER: As “Operation Sindoor” approaches its one-year mark, residents of the border districts of Jaisalmer and Barmer were once again reminded of blackout conditions on Friday night. Sirens echoed across the areas, while police vehicles rushed through the streets with hooters, recreating an emergency-like situation. Following directives from the central and state governments, a large-scale mock drill and blackout exercise was conducted on Friday across several border districts, including Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bikaner, Sri Ganganagar and Jodhpur. The exercise aimed to prepare for potential enemy air strikes and aerial attacks. During the drill, the administration, police, medical teams and other departments coordinated to simulate emergency response mechanisms. Residents were instructed to switch off lights in homes and commercial establishments during the blackout period. While some areas observed complete darkness, in others, police teams were seen requesting people to follow blackout norms. In Jaisalmer, the mock drill was carried out at a building in Indra Colony. The main objective was to assess the preparedness of administrative systems to ensure civilian safety during emergencies such as air strikes. The drill began at 7:20 pm with a warning siren sounded by the Civil Defence team, triggering emergency protocols. These included advance alerts for air attacks, fire response, rescue operations and strict enforcement of blackout measures. Later, from 8:45 pm to 9:00 pm, a complete blackout was observed, with citizens actively participating. District Collector Anupama Jorwal said such exercises are important for evaluating and strengthening disaster management preparedness. She highlighted the coordinated efforts of the district administration, police, fire services, medical and health departments, civil defence, home guards, NCC, NSS, scouts and guides, and various volunteer organisations. Public cooperation further improved the effectiveness of the drill. The exercise also demonstrated ambulance readiness, hospital emergency response, crowd control and safe evacuation procedures. The smooth coordination among agencies reflected strong disaster management capabilities. The District Collector urged citizens to avoid panic or rumours during such drills and to cooperate with authorities with awareness and discipline. She also thanked residents and institutions for contributing to national security by observing the blackout. She added that the main aim of such exercises is to ensure the safety of life and property, strengthen administrative systems, and increase public awareness and preparedness for emergencies. A similar drill was conducted at the Barmer district headquarters under the directions of the Home Department. At the Government College, various emergency situations were simulated, including rescue and relief operations during sudden air strike scenarios. Officials practised quick response strategies, safe evacuation of injured persons, and maintaining essential services. Following the drill, Barmer city observed a blackout from 8:00 pm to 8:15 pm, during which electricity supply was completely shut down across the city.
