Darkness enveloped Patna, Bihar’s capital, as sirens blared, halting the city in its tracks on Thursday evening. The civil defence blackout and mock drill, starting at 7 p.m., aimed to assess emergency response systems and ready citizens for potential crises, including aerial attacks. Sirens rang out at over 100 locations in the city, including Patna Municipal Corporation areas and nearby regions like Danapur Nizamat, Khagaul, and Phulwari Sharif.
The two-minute siren alert was succeeded by a complete blackout from 7 p.m. to 7:15 p.m., with all city lights switched off. This exercise extended beyond the state capital, with similar drills held simultaneously in districts like Kishanganj, Begusarai, Purnea, Araria, and Katihar as part of a broader preparedness initiative. In Kishanganj, residents were forewarned about a scheduled power cut as part of the drill.
Authorities emphasized that the drill was solely a preparedness measure and urged citizens not to panic. Residents were instructed to adhere strictly to the district administration’s guidelines during the exercise and to maintain vigilance. Officials reiterated the importance of staying alert and safe, providing emergency contact details for assistance.
For any urgent help, citizens were directed to reach out to the State Emergency Operations Centre of the Disaster Management Department or dial the Emergency Assistance Number. Extensive awareness campaigns were launched in preparation for the drill, with citizens advised to turn off all lights and refrain from using mobile phone flashlights during the blackout. This exercise follows last year’s drill post the “Sindoor Operation” against Pakistan, building upon previous readiness efforts.
