Mock drills, blackouts to be held in Punjab today; here are the timings

This is the second such drill in Punjab, following the one held on May 7. Here are the district-wise timings and details:

1. Gurdaspur

Mock drill: 6 pm at Gurdaspur bus stand

Blackout: 8 pm to 8.30 pm

Apart from civil defence teams, home guards, NCC, health department, fire brigade, and police teams will participate. Jaswinder Singh, the Dinanagar sub-divisional magistrate, is the nodal officer. Villagers have been advised to observe a voluntary blackout.

2. Ferozepur

Sirens: 6:00 – 6:30 PM in city and cantonment areas

Blackout: 9 pm to 9.30 pm

Residents advised to turn off lights, stay indoors, and remain calm.

3. Amritsar

Blackout: 8 pm to 8.30 pm

Major Amit Sareen, additional deputy commissioner (urban development), has advised residents to stay in ground-floor safe rooms. Fans on inverters allowed; rooftop movement discouraged.

4. Tarn Taran

Mock drill: 6 pm

Blackout: 8.30 pm to 9 pm

5. Barnala

Mock drill: 6 pm at Government Senior Secondary School (Sandhu Patti), Trident Factory, and Air Force Station (Bhadalwad)

Blackout: 8.30 pm to 9 pm

6. Sangrur

Mock drill: 6 pm

Blackout: 8 pm to 9 pm

7. Pathankot

Blackout: 8 pm to 10 pm (Exact timing yet to be confirmed)

8. Fazilka

Mock drill: 6 pm

Blackout: Timing yet to be finalised

9. Jalandhar

Mock drill: 6 pm

Blackout: 9.30 pm to 10 pm

10. Patiala

Mock drill: 5 pm to 8 pm at Raja Bhalindra Singh Sports Stadium (Polo Ground)

Blackout: 8 pm to 8.10 pm at Lal Bagh Colony

Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Isha Singhal emphasised the importance of preparedness.

11. Ludhiana

Blackout: 8 pm to 8.15 pm

Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd will cut power supply to 18 villages and Rajguru Nagar just before the drill and restore it after 15 minutes. Areas affected: Bhanohar, Hasanpur, Baddowal, Rurka, Jamgpur, Khadoor, Haveli, Adda City Dakha, Ajitsar, Issewal, Gahour, Detwal, Kailpur, Baraich, Madiani, MorKarima, Boothgarh, and Baddowal Cantonment area.

12. Bathinda

Mock drill: 6 pm in Army area and Ganpati Colony

Blackout: 8.30 pm to 8.40 pm

Deputy Commissioner Shaukat Ahmad Parray said sirens will be sounded, and compliance is mandatory.

13. Malerkotla

Mock drill: 1 pm at DC office

Blackout: Not specified

14. Muktsar

Mock drill: 6 pm at DC office

Blackout: Not specified

15. Fatehgarh Sahib

Mock drill: 6 pm at DC office

Blackout: Not specified

16. Faridkot

Mock drill: 6 pm at Kotkapura (Venue TBD)

Blackout: Not specified

17. Moga

Mock drill and blackout: 8 pm near Nestlé plant

Additional Deputy Commissioner Charumita emphasised safety preparedness.

18. Mansa

Not a part of civil defence districts. No mock drills or blackouts planned at the time of filing this report.

19. Mohali

Mock drill: 6 pm at BPCL Lalru (Derabassi)

Deputy Commissioner Komal Mittal said an air raid siren will precede a rescue simulation. Traffic lights and vehicle headlights will be turned off in the area.

20. Rupnagar

Mock drill: 5 pm at NFL Nangal

Blackout: 8 pm to 8.15 pm

Deputy Commissioner Varjeet Walia urged residents not to panic.

21. Hoshiarpur

Mock drill: 6 pm

Blackout: 8 pm to 8.15 pm

Deputy Commissioner Aashika Jain has issued detailed instructions for total darkness, including external lights, inverters, CCTV lights, and signage. Essential lighting must be covered if it cannot be turned off.

22. Nawanshahr

Mock drill: 6 pm

Blackout: 8 pm to 8.15 pm

23. Kapurthala

Blackout: 9.30 pm to 10 pm. Only in Kapurthala and Phagwara