Manipur conducts war mock drill under ‘Operation Abhyaas’

Imphal: Manipur joined the nation conducting war mock drill under ‘Operation Abhyaas’ amid tension between India and Pakistan after Pahalgam terrorist attack that killed 16 individuals.

Air raid sirens sounded simultaneously across five districts in Manipur at 4 pm. on Wednesday, marking the commencement of a statewide civil defence mock drill.

The district administrations of Churachandpur, Imphal West, Tengnoupal, Ukhrul, and Bishnupur jointly carried out the exercise, simulating emergency response protocols during an air raid.

Key locations included Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Tuinom, Churachandpur; Johnstone Higher Secondary School in Imphal West; St. George High School in Moreh, Tengnoupal; Ningthoukhong Higher Secondary School in Bishnupur; and Ukhrul headquarters ground.

Conducted under the Civil Defence Rules, 1968, the drill aimed to evaluate inter-agency coordination and preparedness in the face of potential aerial threats.

Police, Fire Services, Assam Rifles, Health department, Manipur State Power Distribution Company Limited, disaster response teams, and volunteers from NCC, NSS, NYK, local schools, district level officers, armed forces representatives, and personnel from various departments took part in the drill, underscoring the importance of a unified emergency response system.

Deputy commissioner of Imphal West, Mayanglambam Rajkumar, while addressing the gathering, emphasized the need for calm and confidence in emergency situations. He urged citizens to cooperate with authorities and highlighted that the mock drill was meant to promote preparedness, not fear.

Key activities during the drill included air raid siren alerts, emergency response activations, public safety announcements, blackout simulations, search and rescue operations, and medical emergency setups. Civilian participants were also trained in basic safety protocols.

A rescue operation was demonstrated at Johnstone Higher Secondary School, where Manipur Fire Service teams conducted firefighting operations using mobile fire bikes, drawing significant public interest. At the Manipur State Museum, officials demonstrated camouflage techniques by covering the building with green sheets.