Jaisalmer: In compliance with directives from the Centre and the state govt, a mock drill and blackout exercise was conducted on Friday in the border districts of Jaisalmer and Barmer to assess emergency preparedness.The exercise saw coordinated participation from the district administration, police, medical services and other departments. In Jaisalmer, the drill was held at a building in Indra Colony, focusing on evaluating readiness to ensure civilian safety during emergencies, including aerial attack scenarios.The drill began at 7.20 pm with a warning siren sounded by the civil defence team, following which emergency protocols were activated. These included advance alerts for potential airstrikes, fire response measures and enforcement of blackout norms. A complete blackout was observed from 8.45 pm to 9 pm, with residents cooperating. Police teams were seen asking establishments to switch off lights to ensure compliance.District collector Anupama Jorwal said such drills are essential to test and strengthen disaster management systems. She said multiple agencies — including administration, police, fire services, medical and health dept, civil defence, home guards, NCC, NSS and scout-guide groups — worked in coordination, aided by public cooperation.Officials said the drill also tested ambulance availability, hospital preparedness, crowd control and evacuation procedures.Jorwal urged people to avoid panic or rumours during such exercises and cooperate with authorities. She thanked residents and institutions for supporting the blackout, adding that such drills aim to enhance safety, improve administrative response and build public awareness.Sub-divisional officer Saksham Goyal and municipal council commissioner Lajpal Singh Sodha, along with officials from various departments, were present.
