Blackout drill tonight in Bhopal, Indore and three other MP cities

BHOPAL/INDORE: A civil defence drill will be conducted on Wednesday in Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior, Jabalpur, and Katni as part of a nationwide preparedness exercise initiated by ministry of home affairs (MHA).The drill - involving civilian cooperation - will simulate wartime scenarios such as blackouts, air-raid sirens, evacuation drills, and emergency responses. Chief minister Mohan Yadav, in his address to ministerial colleagues before Tuesday's cabinet meeting, said that safety drills will be organised keeping in mind 'current national and international circumstances'.The exercise is scheduled from 4pm to 8pm. In Indore, the blackout will be from 7.30pm to 7.42pm. In Bhopal, there will be a 10-minute blackout at 7.40pm. Residents have been urged to stay indoors as far as possible during the lights-out period and keep home lighting to a minimum. Indore collector Asheesh Singh has requested motorists to pull over to the roadside and switch off lights during this time. tnn At the core of this effort are the ‘Civil Defence districts’ — designated areas with trained personnel responsible for coordinating emergency procedures and public safety operations.During the simulation, residents in the participating cities will experience mock air raid sirens, scheduled blackouts, and public evacuation rehearsals. Emergency response teams will also practice rescue and relief protocols in real time.“The aim is to ensure that both citizens and authorities are better prepared to respond calmly and effectively in high-stress situations,” said a senior civil defence official in Bhopal. Civic defence personnel will simulate securing key infrastructure and rescuing the injured in case of emergencies. Detailed instructions have been issued to district collectors and police superintendents in this regard.Authorities have urged the public not to panic and to cooperate with the drill, which is designed to improve awareness, reduce confusion, and ultimately save lives in the event of a real emergency.BHOPAL/INDORE: Indoreans still remember the drills of 1971. Narayan Rao Manchare, a resident, recalled how even lighting a lamp outside the house was prohibited in the blackout. “The purpose was to prevent enemy aircraft from identifying settlements during aerial attacks,” he said.