Surat Ready for Massive Civil Defence Mock Drill Amid India-Pakistan Tensions

Surat, Gujarat — “Preparedness saves lives. In today’s volatile climate, a few minutes of planning can prevent irreparable loss,” said Surat District Collector Dr. Saurabh Pardhi as he kicked off a high-level emergency response mock drill named “Operation Study” in the diamond city of Surat on May 7. The exercise, organized amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack, aimed to test and strengthen Surat’s readiness for civil emergencies, including air strikes and natural disasters.

The drill will take place from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm and involve coordinated activities across six major zones in the city and district. At 4:00 pm sharp, siren alarms will be sounded for two minutes at 51 strategic locations across the city—ranging from municipal zones to industrial areas—marking the commencement of the drill.

“This is not just a drill—it’s a wake-up call. Citizens and systems must act as one in times of crisis,” emphasized Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gehlot, who elaborated on the integrated coordination between police, fire, rescue, and health departments. All traffic signals will be turned off  during the scheduled blackout between 7:30 and 8:00 pm to simulate wartime or emergency conditions.

The mock scenarios includes simulated air strike alerts, rescue operations, and emergency hospital evacuations. Trained personnel practiced the evacuation of ‘injured’ victims and the relocation of civilians from ‘impacted zones’ to designated safe areas. Emergency services like ambulances, fire brigades, and police patrols were on high alert, offering real-time response simulations.

Municipal Commissioner Shalini Agarwal said the blackout is a key component of the drill, during which streetlights, shop displays, billboards, traffic lights, and even household lighting were switched off voluntarily. The participation of citizens is deemed crucial. “This is about collective responsibility. Blackouts may seem symbolic, but they simulate real threats,” she said.

Residents across Surat responded positively, with many neighborhoods participating fully in the blackout. “We will turn off all lights in our home. It gives us a sense of how fragile normal life can be during emergencies,” said Anil Shah, a resident of Naranpura.

The high-level preparatory meeting ahead of the drill was held at the Surat Circuit House, chaired by Collector Pardhi, and attended by key city and district leaders. MP Mukesh Dalal, Mayor Daxesh Mavani, MLAs Sandeep Desai, Sangeeta Patil, Ishwar Parmar, and Purnesh Modi were all present, alongside District Panchayat President Bhavini Patel and District Development Officer Shivani Goyal.

Collector Pardhi underlined that Operation Study was not in response to any specific threat to Surat but a proactive preparedness initiative in light of the deteriorating national security scenario. “Every life matters. A city that prepares, survives,” he concluded.

The exercise ended with a review session, where feedback from officials and emergency teams will be evaluated to further improve the city’s disaster response mechanisms.