Danapur cantt, railway div reinforce war preparedness

Patna: Like several other parts of the country, Army areas and railway colonies in Danapur cantonment experienced a complete blackout for 10 minutes on Wednesday from 7pm to 7.10pm. Residents in the cantonment and adjacent railway colony areas in Khagaul turned off all lights and electrical appliances in coordination with local authorities. The initiative aimed to test the responsiveness and coordination between civil and defence agencies in blackout protocols, a critical component of wartime and emergency training, said Col (retd) V K Singh. Major areas around the Danapur railway station and Patna Junction dimmed the lights to ensure minimal inconvenience to passengers and ongoing train operations. Essential services remained unaffected, and railway staff were briefed in advance to manage the drill smoothly without disrupting transport schedules, a senior railway official of Danapur said. The railway civil defence department monitored the drill and noted compliance levels, communication efficiency and public cooperation."The exercise was well-coordinated. The railways ensured that safety and operational continuity were maintained while contributing to the nationwide preparedness effort," Danapur senior divisional commercial manager Abhinav Siddarth said. Civil defence mock drills were also conducted at several other places in Danapur division.