Drone Attack Mock Drill Conducted at Adani Hazira Port to Test Industrial Security

Surat | Gujarat — In a major exercise aimed at strengthening industrial security and emergency preparedness, a large-scale drone attack mock drill was conducted at Adani Hazira Port in Surat on Monday. The drill was jointly organised by the Gujarat Maritime Board and Adani Hazira Port to assess the readiness of port authorities and multiple agencies in handling modern security threats.

With the rapid advancement of technology, authorities are increasingly concerned about the possibility of drone-based attacks targeting critical industrial infrastructure. The mock exercise was designed to test the response mechanisms of security forces, disaster management teams and port authorities in the event of such an emergency.

Drone Attack Scenario Simulated

According to officials, the mock drill began at 12:10 pm, when an unidentified drone was simulated to have carried out an aerial attack on the liquid jetty and liquid terminal at the port. The situation was immediately treated as an on-site emergency, triggering a coordinated response from various departments.

As part of safety protocols, cargo handling operations, crane activities and ship movements at the port were temporarily halted. Security teams including the Central Industrial Security Force and Marine Police were placed on high alert, while port personnel were directed to move to designated safe zones.

Shortly afterward, the mock scenario escalated with another simulated drone strike targeting a chemical cargo vessel and associated tank farm infrastructure. The simulated attack created a hazardous situation involving heavy aromatic chemicals, requiring immediate disaster management action.

Multi-Agency Coordination Tested

Emergency response teams were mobilised under the supervision of the District Collector, who led the District Crisis Group (DCG) and Local Crisis Group (LCG). The exercise tested coordination among various agencies including police, port authorities, environmental regulators and industrial safety departments.

The drill was conducted under the guidance of Pankaj Uke, with support from the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health, Gujarat Pollution Control Board and other district disaster management authorities.

Officials said such exercises are essential to ensure preparedness against emerging security threats.

“Industrial infrastructure and ports are critical assets. Regular drills like this help agencies test their coordination, identify gaps and strengthen emergency response mechanisms,” a senior official involved in the exercise said.

Participation from Major Industries

Representatives from major industries located in the Hazira industrial belt also took part in the drill through the Mutual Aid Group–Hazira. Companies including Shell, Reliance Industries, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, GAIL, NTPC and Kribhco participated in the exercise.

Officials from the Hazira Notified Area Authority, local police, fire department and marine security units also joined the drill.

At the end of the exercise, authorities conducted a detailed review of the response operations to identify areas for improvement in security and disaster management protocols.

Officials said such collaborative efforts between government agencies, port authorities and industries are crucial for ensuring safe and responsible port operations, particularly in strategically important industrial zones like Hazira.