Exercise rekindles memories of 1971 Indo-Pak war for elderly

Bhubaneswar: Centre's decision to conduct mock drills across the country on Wednesday in wake of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, has rekindled memories of the 1971 Indo-Pak war, the last time when such large-scale preparedness exercises were held.The move, aimed at readying civilians and local administrations for emergency situations, has already begun to affect daily life in Odisha, with many families cancelling their summer vacation plans due to the prevailing uncertainty.Echoes of war drills from over five decades ago are coming back to life, especially for those who lived through that period. "We would stay glued to the radio to know when the sirens would sound. Our elders used to hurry us indoors, turn off all the lights, and cover windows with dark cloth. It was frightening but also strangely uniting," recalled 62-year-old Shantilata Rath from Bargarh, who was in school during the 1971 Bangladesh liberation war.For others, like Syed Maqbool Ali, who was a college student during the 1971 war and now a resident of Bhubaneswar, the threat felt distant but not unreal. "We were asked to switch off lights during nights. Even the upper part of headlights of vehicles was painted black. But many in Odisha didn't take it seriously because we were so far from the border. Still, the air was tense, and the war buzz was everywhere," Ali recalled.In Balasore, close to the Integrated Test Range, retired Air Force officer Manoj Das, a Kargil war veteran, has taken it upon himself to educate nearby villagers about basic safety measures and emergency protocols. "People often think these things won't affect them. But being prepared is better than being caught off-guard. I tell them how to respond to sirens, what items to keep ready at home, and how to support each other in a crisis," Das said.Officials said the mock drills are intended to test the coordination between various agencies and spread awareness among citizens. The drill will include simulated sirens, blackout procedures and emergency response mechanisms for civilians.Travel agencies reported a sharp rise in cancellations of holiday bookings in the state. "Many families have dropped their plans for trips to hill stations and other places, citing safety concerns and the looming uncertainty," said Arpit Swain, a city-based travel agent.Samarjit Mohanty, an IT professional, who cancelled his trip to Uttarakhand, said, "The situation is very volatile. In an emergency situation, it will be very difficult to travel. So, we decided to spend the vacation at home instead of a hotel far away."