Shahjahanpur: Blackout’ across State And Shahjahanpur face a ‘black out’ as part of mock drill.District magistrate and higher authorities of the state said that the idea is to check emergency preparedness. The entire procedure is set to last about 10 minutes.

Under the able supervision of the District Magistrate, a large-scale blackout mock drill was successfully conducted at the Collectorate premises on Tuesday evening from 6:00 pm. The exercise aimed to assess Civil Defence preparedness and to sensitise the public about safety protocols in the event of a potential aerial attack.
As per the scheduled programme, the drill commenced sharply at 6:00 pm with the sounding of a wailing danger siren, following which electricity supply was completely switched off across the Collectorate campus and adjoining areas. The District Magistrate remained present on-site to personally monitor the entire operation. Immediately after the siren, Civil Defence volunteers and wardens took charge at their respective posts, ensuring that no light was visible from any building or street.
Addressing officials, Civil Defence personnel, Aapda Mitras, Home Guards, NCC cadets and police personnel after the conclusion of the exercise, the District Magistrate emphasised that the core principle of Civil Defence is selfless service. He underlined that in modern times, wars are not confined to borders alone, and urban security is equally critical. Explaining the significance of a blackout, he said it is not merely about switching off lights but about preventing enemy aircraft or missiles from identifying targets. He added that the siren system, communication network and volunteer response time were reviewed during the drill and found to be highly satisfactory.
The mock drill witnessed effective coordination among the Civil Defence Department, police administration, health department and fire services. Symbolic demonstrations of first aid and firefighting were also conducted within the Collectorate premises. Security wardens patrolled streets and lanes, instructing residents to remain indoors and keep lights switched off. As part of traffic control measures, vehicle headlights on the roads were also turned off, providing a realistic simulation of wartime conditions.
The district administration appealed to citizens to take such mock drills seriously. Officials stated that similar exercises will continue to be organised in the future to prevent panic during emergencies and to ensure that every citizen understands and fulfils their responsibility towards collective safety.