Jaipur prepares for simulated aerial attack, power cuts today

Jaipur: Various districts in Rajasthan will participate in coordinated air raid mock drills and evacuation exercises on Wednesday as part of the extensive emergency preparedness campaign planned by the state. The large-scale operation will focus on both urban centres and border areas and aims to enhance public readiness and inter-agency coordination in the event of aerial attacks. Chief secretary Sudhansh Pant instructed all district administrations to ensure proper functioning of communication systems and sirens. He reviewed the state's preparedness and efforts to enhance civil defence and response capabilities. "Departments must work in close coordination to ensure the smooth execution of the drill. This exercise is not merely procedural — it is a vital step in strengthening our emergency response framework," he said.

In Jaipur, the simulation designed to mimic an actual aerial strike will see 10 sirens activated across eight strategic locations in the city such as Raj Bhavan, secretariat, BSNL office on MI Road, DSO office at the collectorate, Chandpole, Shastri Nagar, Chaugan Stadium and Sanganeri Gate. The drill will feature a 10-20 minute blackout in the evening to evaluate emergency response capabilities under low-visibility conditions.

District collector Dr Jitendra Kumar Soni has urged residents to maintain calm during the exercise. "This exercise is crucial for ensuring public readiness and coordination among various agencies should a real emergency occur," he stated.

Kota and Rawatbhata have been designated as high-sensitivity areas due to their critical infrastructure. Kota, housing a thermal power plant and uranium storage facilities, will conduct drills using citywide sirens. Rawatbhata, home to a nuclear power facility, has implemented enhanced monitoring and inter-agency coordination protocols.

The western border districts of Barmer, Jaisalmer, Sriganganagar, Hanumangarh and Anupgarh are under particular focus due to their proximity to Pakistan. Barmer has deployed over 1,000 civil defence personnel and established a dedicated control room at the collectorate. The Border Security Force (BSF) is working closely with local authorities to monitor border activities.

In Jodhpur, 500 civil defence volunteers will participate in simulations involving coordinated responses from fire, police and medical services. Drone operations have been restricted across these sensitive areas during the exercise period.

Local authorities emphasise that these drills are preventive measures to ensure public safety and improve emergency response capabilities. Officials have requested public cooperation while assuring that there is no cause for alarm during these scheduled exercises.

The comprehensive campaign is one of the largest emergency preparedness operations in the region with Indo-Pak tensions escalating after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22.