Wed May 07 20:40:00 UTC 2025: **Punjab Conducts Statewide Emergency Response Drill, Causing Widespread Blackouts**
AMRITSAR, INDIA – A sudden citywide blackout and siren blare across several Punjab districts on Wednesday triggered alarm, but authorities quickly reassured residents it was a planned emergency response drill. The exercise, aimed at testing the state’s preparedness for disaster and wartime scenarios, involved power outages and simulated emergencies in major cities including Amritsar, Ludhiana, Firozpur, Bathinda, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Pathankot, Patiala, Barnala, and Mohali.
In Amritsar, the district administration initiated a blackout, instructing citizens to remain indoors and avoid panic. Reports of loud explosions in the western parts of the city added to the initial anxiety, but police commissioner Gurpreet Bhullar stated that investigations found no cause for alarm, attributing the sounds to unknown sources. The blackout, however, served as a precautionary measure.
The drill included power cuts in various cities at scheduled times. In Mohali and Chandigarh, power was suspended for 10 minutes starting at 7:30 PM. Ludhiana experienced a 30-minute blackout starting at 8:00 PM, while Sangrur’s lasted from 8:30 PM to 8:40 PM, and Firozpur from 9:00 PM to 9:30 PM. While markets and malls were affected, hospitals and medical facilities remained exempt.
Simultaneously, a civil defense mock drill simulating high-intensity emergency situations was carried out in three locations in Chandigarh, including the inter-state bus stand in Sector-17.
Authorities emphasized the necessity of such exercises to enhance public safety and ensure an effective response to unforeseen crises. The drill aimed to improve the public’s reaction during emergencies, minimizing confusion and panic.
First Piper 