Mock drill today to ensure emergency preparedness in Kanpur

Kanpur: The city is set to witness a Civil Defence mock drill on Wednesday at 4 pm after a significant interval. The objective of the mock drill is to ensure a well-managed and prompt response to civilians in the event of an emergency. The drill will involve practices such as the sounding of sirens for air raids, black out, evacuation, and the provision of first aid.

District magistrate Jitendra Pratap Singh informed that a fire defence drill is scheduled to take place at ten localities in the city as part of the Civil Defence mock drill at 4 pm on Wednesday.

The designated sites are Bara Chauraha, SK Singh Chauraha Lakhanpur, Anurag Hospital Sharda Nagar crossing, Sant Nagar Crossing, Malik Guest house Rama Devi crossing, Bansmandi crossing, Pal crossing, Dabauli turn, Shri Muni Inter College Govind Nagar, and Yashoda Nagar Inter College.

Additionally, at the same time, a Rescue Drill will be conducted at Malviya Park Collectorganj, Transport Nagar Kidwai Nagar, and Shaheed Chandra Shekhar Azad Inter College, Panki.

As per the advisory issued by the district magistrate, a siren test for the black out drill will occur at 4 pm to facilitate a black out period scheduled from 9.30 pm to 10.00 pm. This black out is being carried out in anticipation of air raids during this time. All visible lights or light points, especially those in residential and sensitive areas, will be turned off, making it difficult to identify these places from the air.

The administration will employ public address systems, civil defence hand-held sirens, and sirens from industrial institutions for a three-minute siren drill. From 9.30 pm to 9.33 pm, a three-minute siren with varying pitch will sound, signalling the air raid. At 10 pm, the siren will again sound for three minutes in a single pitch, indicating the conclusion of the black out. Citizens have been asked not to switch on the lights in their homes during the black out.

The residents are expected to cover windows and doors with black curtains to prevent light from escaping, and the municipal corporation will switch off all street lights and those at public places. Billboards, screens, hoardings, signboards, and façade lights will be switched off, with the responsibility falling on advertising agencies, owners, and municipal corporations to ensure power is cut during the black out.

Car travellers are advised to stop by the roadside and switch off their vehicle lights during the black out. Rail and national highway transport will function as usual.

Kesco will not cut the power supply, instead, the responsibility lies with the citizens to observe the black out and prevent identification of their areas. During this period, Army officials will remain in contact with the district administration and Police Commissionerate.

Rajesh Kumar, additional district magistrate (City-mob No 9454416400), and Rajesh Kumar Srivastava (additional police commissioner, Central-Mob No. 9454400687), will serve as nodal officers for the drill.

The integrated command centre at KMC will act as the control room to oversee activities during the black out. The district magistrate has urged citizens to cooperate with this operation.