Amritsar, 31st May 2025 : In accordance with the government's instructions, a district-wide blackout mock drill will be conducted today from 8:00 PM to 8:30 PM. Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney has issued an important public announcement, clarifying details about the drill and urging citizens not to panic, as this is only a preparedness simulation.

The simulation will begin with an exercise at 6 PM at Dussehra Ground, Ranjit Avenue. The blackout drill will follow at 8 PM. Feeders will be centrally turned off in most areas, excluding essential services, rural areas, the airport, and the walled city.

In her video message, DC Sakshi Sawhney stated:

“As you know, on 31 May, mock drills are taking place in our district as per the government's instructions. First, a simulation exercise will be conducted at Dussehra Ground at Ranjit Avenue at 6 PM. After that, as was told to you yesterday by Major Amit Sareen, a blackout will be observed in our district.

Now, I have come in front of you again as there were a lot of enquiries about the blackout. Especially, to address your enquiries. First of all, it is a mock drill, so there is no need to panic in this.

In this mock drill, we do a lot of tests to check our preparedness, our emergency preparedness plus, and it is very important to note, the preparedness of the citizens. So, keeping the preparedness of the citizens in mind, there are some areas where we will not implement a centrally blackout. This means that, as you all know, we cut the power centrally.

But, we want that when the siren rings, first, the siren will ring, after the siren rings, at 8 PM, you will get an alert via WhatsApp and SMS that the mock drill has started. At that time, we want that, for example, the citizens of the walled city should turn off their lights themselves. Actually, this mock drill is also checking the preparedness of the citizens.

We are also deputing our civil defence volunteers at several places, who will observe the exercise to see how the citizens are being taken care of. So, whether it is that you turn off your lights yourself, even if we do not cut your central lights, or, as we have told you many times before, when this mock drill starts or any siren rings, the traffic should also be halted. There are two reasons for this.

One is that your headlights should be switched off, so that if there is any warning of an air raid, you are safe. And secondly, the emergency vehicles need to wait. So, the people who are on the roads, who are in the traffic, it is very important for them to comply with this mock drill.

So, we will be checking all these aspects, so that we are fully prepared at all times. And again, I would like to tell everyone that this is a mock drill. Many people have also asked, how are you keeping this for half an hour? We are keeping it like this for half an hour, because wherever we do a power outage centrally, we cannot bring the power back immediately.

We will bring it in phases. So, our plan is that the power for the last person should be returned by 8.30. So, the drill will last between 8 to 8.30, but the duration will be short only. The duration will be 15 minutes only, but we will ensure that between 8 to 8.30, all your exercises are completed.

You will also guide the emergency vehicles where they have to respond in the simulation exercise. You will also see what are your responsibilities as a citizen whenever there is such kind of a drill.”

Citizens are requested to cooperate by switching off their lights manually where power is not centrally cut, halting vehicles upon hearing the siren, and supporting the drill in every possible way to ensure Amritsar’s preparedness in any emergency situation.

Stay alert, stay informed. This is only a drill — not a cause for panic.

By Parshant Chohan

May 31, 2025

DC Amritsar, Ms. Sakshi Sawhney IAS addressing citizens ahead of the district-wide blackout mock drill scheduled on 31st May 2025.