Guwahati, May 7: In a major preparedness initiative following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and India’s retaliatory air strikes in Pakistan and PoK, the Assam Civil Defence on Wednesday conducted coordinated mock drills across 23 locations in the state to assess readiness for war-like or terror-related scenarios.
Led by the Directorate General of Civil Defence, Assam, in coordination with district administrations, the drills involved comprehensive simulations including air raid sirens, blackout protocols, civilian evacuation procedures, and rapid response coordination. The objective was to evaluate inter-agency effectiveness and strengthen public preparedness in the face of potential external aggression.
In Guwahati, the flagship exercise was conducted at the 10th Assam Police Battalion (APBN) campus in Kahilipara, coordinated by Civil Defence, Kamrup (Metro). The event drew participation from the Assam Police, SDRF, Fire & Emergency Services, Health Department, and civil defence volunteers, all working together in real-time simulations to test emergency responses.
A key highlight was the Air Raid Simulation Exercise, designed to mimic an aerial threat scenario and assess the state’s capacity for mitigation, evacuation, and damage control. The simulation was executed under high-alert conditions to replicate actual conflict circumstances as closely as possible.
Deba Prasad Misra, Secretary of the Home & Political Department, Assam, addressed participants and emphasized the importance of such drills: “These exercises are critical for equipping our agencies and citizens with the confidence and knowledge to respond swiftly during crises such as war or terror attacks.”
IG of Home Guards & Civil Defence, Arabinda Kalita, called on the public to remain vigilant and cooperative during emergencies, reinforcing the role of civilians in effective crisis management.
Senior officials present at the Guwahati event included IGP (Law & Order) Akhilesh Kumar Singh, Kamrup Metro DC Sumit Sattawan, Joint Commissioner of Police Ankur Jain, and Guwahati Mayor Mrigen Sarania. ADGP Akhilesh Singh, who oversaw drills across multiple districts, stressed the long-term goal of strengthening coordination and resilience across Assam’s emergency systems.
“The drills were successful and went off smoothly. Follow-up reviews will help identify gaps and fine-tune response strategies,” Singh added.
Officials confirmed that the drills proceeded without incident and plans are in place for future sessions to reinforce Assam’s conflict preparedness amid evolving security threats.
