Shillong, April 24:The mock exercise of the state government on air raid and blackout has evoked mixed response.
A statement issued by Directorate of Civil Defence & Home Guards, said the ‘Civil Defence Mock Exercise on Air Raid and Blackout entitled “ARMEX-I 2026” was as per the directive received from the Directorate General of Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards (DGFSCD&HG), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
The mock exercise on air raid and blackout was conducted in all districts of the state involving all Important stakeholders such as the Airforce, Army, Police, SDRF, Home Guards, Civil Defence Wardens & Volunteers, Fire & Emergency Services, Health Department, Power Department, SDMA, DDMA, DIPR, Dorbar Shnong and traditional village bodies, NCC, NSS, NYKS and others.
“ARMEX I 2026” mock exercise was conducted in two stages viz Stage I comprising simulations on search & rescue operations, fire response, evacuation and medical response and stage 2 comprising simulation on air raid sirens and blackout.
Stage I commenced from 3 pm and concluded at 4 PM and stage II commenced from 6:59 pm and concluded at 7.2 pm.
In stage 1, the civil defence diren was sounded at 3 pm in all districts of the state indicating an air raid and the commencement of the mock exercise. Pre-identified incident sites simulating missile impact and drone attacks saw responders such as SDRF, Fire and Emergency Services, Police, QRTs of Civil Defence & Home Guards, Civil Defence wardens and volunteers, village bodies, NCC, NSS working in tandem to mitigate the impact of aerial attack.
At 4 pm, the Civil Defence siren sounded the all clear signal in all districts of the state indicating the neutralization of aerial threat and also the conclusion of the mock exercise and demobilization or regrouping of all stakeholders and participants in the mock exercise.
In the second stage of the mock exercise, the Civil Defence siren was sounded at 7 pm signaling an air raid and the commencement of blackout.
However, many did not switch off lights thereby defeating the purpose.
According to civil defence personnel, the blackout lasted for two minutes and ended at 7.2 sharp with the sounding of the all-clear signal through the Civil Defence siren thus concluding the mock exercise, ARMEX I.
The highlight of ARMEX I was the debriefing session held at State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) in Shillong and the District Emergency Operations Centres (DEOC) in all 12 Districts. Chaired by M. W. Nongbri, Commissioner & Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management and Co-Chaired by MK Sangma, Director of Civil Defence, Meghalaya, the debriefing session on ARMEX I saw the participation of all stakeholders reviewing the performance of the mock exercise. Important feedbacks to further improve the mock exercise was submitted by all stakeholders.
As part of the nation’s civil defence preparedness for protection and safeguarding of civilian lives during conflict and wars, the civil defence mock exercise on air raid will be held twice every year with the aim of generating public awareness and preparedness.
