In line with a national directive issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Madhya Pradesh government will conduct a large-scale civil defence mock drill on Wednesday at 4 pm across five major districts — Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur, Gwalior and Katni. The simulation is part of a massive nationwide exercise involving 295 districts across India, aimed at enhancing emergency preparedness and public safety readiness in the face of wartime or disaster-like scenarios. The drills will mimic real-life crisis conditions such as air raid sirens, blackouts, mass evacuations, and coordinated emergency responses.
According to DIG Civil Defence Manish Agrawal, these five locations in Madhya Pradesh have been specifically chosen for the drill under the larger national framework. “District administration and police forces in all five cities will be actively engaged in this coordinated exercise,” he said while speaking to The Pioneer. The drills will test the operational readiness of various civil defence and disaster management units. These include mock scenarios where emergency services will respond to simulated threats, rescue operations and public safety challenges under stress.
A senior official from the Civil Defence department in Bhopal highlighted the core objective of the exercise: “The aim is to ensure that both citizens and authorities are better prepared to respond calmly and effectively in high-stress situations.” Agrawal stated that by Tuesday morning, specific locations within the districts will be finalised. “We are awaiting decisions on which areas will be covered under the mock drill,” Agrawal said, adding that a series of marathon meetings with senior police and administrative officials in the night will chalk out operational plans.
“At present, we have been asked to remain fully prepared for the mock drill scheduled for tomorrow morning,” he informed, emphasising that final arrangements would depend on tonight’s briefings and on-ground logistical readiness.
As part of the scheduled activities, starting at 4 pm on Wednesday, the simulation will include warning alerts through sirens, city-wide blackouts, protection of critical infrastructure, and the safe evacuation of mock-injured victims in simulated accident scenarios.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has appealed to residents not to panic during the drill and to fully cooperate with emergency teams to ensure the exercise runs smoothly. The exercise forms part of India’s broader strategy to reinforce civilian and administrative response mechanisms during times of crisis, ensuring both infrastructure and citizens are well-prepared.