Wed May 07 20:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Amritsar Experiences Prolonged Blackout During Nationwide Civil Defence Mock Drill
**Amritsar, Punjab:** A prolonged blackout plunged Amritsar into darkness from 1:30 AM to the following morning. The blackout, initially attributed to reported explosions, was later clarified as part of a nationwide civil defence mock drill ordered by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
While police commissioner Gurpreet Bhullar confirmed hearing explosions, investigations revealed no incident. The blackout was implemented as a precautionary measure. This followed an earlier, scheduled 30-minute blackout from 10:30 PM to 11:00 PM as part of the same drill. Lights were restored after the initial drill, but a subsequent, extended blackout was implemented shortly thereafter. Airport areas, however, had power restored by 3:15 AM.
The drill, aimed at testing emergency preparedness for future threats, involved planned blackouts in major cities across India. Many states, including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, and Bihar, participated. Prominent landmarks such as the President’s House in Delhi and Raj Bhavan in Patna also participated. Earlier in the day, numerous cities conducted civil defence exercises.
A senior police officer explained the rationale behind the blackout, emphasizing the need to prevent revealing city locations to potential enemies. While some residents complied fully, others did not. The drill involved activating sirens followed by a rapid blackout. The prolonged blackout in Amritsar, while initially causing concern, ultimately served as a test of the city’s preparedness for emergency situations.
First Piper 