126 locations across Kerala hold emergency mock drills

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala on Tuesday conducted mock drills at 126 locations across the state in response to heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, following directives from the Union Home Ministry.

The drills began at 4 p.m., but preparations had been underway since early morning. Public announcements were made at malls and various locations, assuring the public that the exercises were routine and should not cause alarm. Around 3 p.m., personnel from the Civil Defence, Police, Kerala Fire Force, and other agencies gathered at key sites including malls, residential complexes, state and central government offices, the Kerala Legislative Assembly, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and other critical institutions.

As sirens blared across the state at 4 p.m., the coordinated mock drill began. Residents and workers in apartments and offices followed instructions to turn off lights, close windows, draw curtains, create a blackout, and move to safe areas away from the windows.

At a prominent mall in Thiruvananthapuram, Fire Force rescue teams and health workers promptly arrived at the scene. A rescue official scaled the exterior wall to reach the terrace, while injured individuals—played by volunteers—were evacuated on stretchers, given initial medical aid, and transported in ambulances.

A simulated fire broke out during the drill at the Ernakulam Collectorate. Within minutes, emergency services responded, extinguishing the fire while the District Collector coordinated efforts on-site.

Participants, including a group of women living in a high-rise apartment, expressed appreciation for the initiative. “This is a new awareness experience for many of us. We took part seriously, understanding that this knowledge could be vital in an emergency,” one woman said.

The statewide drill concluded at 4:30 p.m., marking one of the most extensive such exercises since the countrywide drills held during the 1971 war era.

With IANS inputs