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Get ready for today’s emergency preparedness drill—here’s what to expect, including sirens, power outages, and safety protocols.
There is no cause for concern—everything is under control. Mumbai will continue its day as usual. Today’s scheduled drill is a routine safety measure required by the Central government to ensure preparedness in the unlikely event of an emergency. Residents may hear sirenS at select locations, but this is part of the exercise and nothing to worry about. Here’s what you need to know about the drill…
Following the recent terror incident in Pahalgam and under directives from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Mumbai will carry out a major preparedness drill named ‘Abhyas’ at 4 PM on Wednesday. Sirens and Outages: What Today’s Emergency Drill
The citywide exercise is designed to evaluate the effectiveness of emergency response systems, improve coordination between security agencies, and assess public readiness in the event of a terror or wartime situation.
The drill will commence with an air raid siren initiated by the Indian Air Force, followed by a simulated fire emergency. Civil Defence sirens will sound in designated zones, while coordinated response teams—including the police, fire department, healthcare personnel, and other emergency services—will conduct mock rescue and relief operations.
The Civil Defence Department has pinpointed several high-priority zones for its upcoming preparedness drill, including Tarapur, BARC in Chembur, and key areas of South Mumbai such as Colaba, Cuffe Parade, Worli, and CST. As part of the initiative, residents—particularly those in South Mumbai—will be assembled and educated on emergency wartime protocols, covering essential dos and don’ts and appropriate response actions. “This exercise is part of the Maharashtra Police Civil Defence Unit’s readiness programme. Our team is fully trained to manage such operations,” a senior Mumbai Police official stated.
Authorities on Tuesday conducted a large-scale security drill at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), led by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and involving over 100 personnel from the Government Railway Police (GRP), Maharashtra Security Force (MSF), and Home Guards, as part of preparedness measures.
Authorities on Alert
Officials conducted a preparedness drill at CSMT on Tuesday, featuring baggage scans, sniffer dog inspections, and simulated passenger evacuations. A rail spokesperson confirmed that a fully operational siren system is already in place to be deployed during emergencies.
Simultaneously, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) announced that its disaster response network would be activated upon receiving alerts from Civil Defence. “These exercises help us pinpoint weaknesses in our preparedness—whether they involve fire hazards, bomb threats, or crowd management in public infrastructure,” a civic official said.
A senior Civil Defence official has announced that blackout protocols will be implemented at selected locations throughout the state. Detailed instructions are expected to be released by Wednesday afternoon. During these blackout drills—especially those conducted at night—residents are required to turn off all lights, including those in homes and vehicles, and avoid using mobile phones. People are also advised to remain indoors until the official all-clear sirEn is sounded.
“These blackout protocols aim to reduce aerial visibility of populated areas to hostile forces,” a government official stated. In line with state directives, all District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) have been tasked with ensuring full coordination and readiness, including the availability of Search and Rescue (SAR) resources like quick-response vehicles, tents, and medical kits. Coordination meetings involving the police, fire services, health departments, and other relevant agencies have been made mandatory ahead of the drill.
However, not all departments are directly participating. “The traffic police do not have a specific role in this exercise,” confirmed Anil Kumbhare, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic). Authorities have urged citizens to cooperate fully and take the drill seriously as a critical measure to test the city’s preparedness amid evolving security challenges.
Evaluate the efficiency of the air raid alert system
Establish communication with the Indian Air Force through hotline and radio
Test the operations of the control and shadow control rooms
Provide training for civilians and students on civil defense in the event of hostile attacks
Implement and assess blackout and camouflage protocols
Assess the readiness of fire, rescue, and supply teams
Review and practice evacuation plans and their execution
Helplines:
- Maharashtra Disaster Management Control Room: 1070 / 112 / 9321587143
- BMC Helpline: 1916
Drill Areas:
- Tarapur
- BARC in Chembur
- Colaba
- Cuffe Parade
- Worli
- CSMT
For those at the airport:
- Regular services will continue as usual.
- In the event of an emergency, an announcement will be made with instructions on what to do.
- Airport officers and staff are on standby to assist passengers, guiding them to the nearest evacuation or safety points within the airport.
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