Shillong, May 7: Meghalaya today joined the rest of the country in conducting a massive statewide Civil Defence Exercise simulating an air raid — the first of its kind in the state since the 1971 Indo-Pak war.
The exercise, held on the directive of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), aimed to assess the readiness of civil defence machinery in the event of an air strike or wartime emergency.
The drill was conducted across all 12 districts of Meghalaya, with special focus on East Khasi Hills, West Jaintia Hills and West Garo Hills.
It began at exactly 4 PM, with civil defence personnel springing into action from village-level wardens and volunteers to district authorities led by the District Magistrate, designated as the Civil Defence Controller. They were supported by Deputy Controllers, Quick Response Teams, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police, fire and emergency services, and the District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs).
At the state level, the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), Air Force Station, and 101 Area of the Indian Army also actively participated.
The simulations included search and rescue operations from collapsed structures, firefighting, and specialized rescue missions—demonstrating a coordinated multi-agency emergency response.
At 6:28 PM, a fluctuating air raid siren echoed across the state for two minutes, signaling an incoming aerial threat. This was followed by a coordinated two-minute blackout at 6:30 PM, simulating wartime civil defence protocol. Power was cut in several towns to replicate the conditions of an actual air raid.
At 6:32 PM, a steady one-minute siren marked the “all-clear” signal, officially ending the exercise.
Speaking to reporters earlier in the day, Joint Director of Civil Defence, M.K. Sangma, said the mock drill was a crucial test of the state’s preparedness in the face of war or similar threats. “This is the first time since 1971 that an air raid civil defence exercise has been conducted in Meghalaya. Given the short notice, this was only the first phase. A more elaborate drill will follow soon,” he said.
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