Kalyan: Mock drill titled Operation Abhyas was held to test the efficiency and coordination between various disaster response and civil defence agencies. The simulation began at 4 pm with the simultaneous activation of four sirens across Kalyan and nearby areas.

The drill was carried out at Maxxi Ground, Karnik Road, Rambagh Lane, opposite Nutan High School in Kalyan.

The exercise was overseen by Thane district collector and civil defence controller Ashok Shingare.

As part of the drill immediately after emergency sirens blared, citizens were directed to for safe and orderly evacuation over the public address system. Simulated search and rescue operations including first aid treatment and the extrication of individuals from mock disaster zones was also conducted.

Shingare urged all participating agencies to treat the mock drill with utmost seriousness and emphasized the importance of public cooperation during such exercises. “People must remain calm, avoid spreading misinformation, and strictly follow instructions issued by the authorities. These drills are essential for building resilience,” he stated.

Commenting on the mock drill, Adv Akash Boinwad shared her thoughts on the exercise, saying, “It’s reassuring to know that our authorities are prepared for such situations. The drill was well-organized, and it’s good to see that we, as citizens, are also being educated on what to do during an emergency.”

“Although it was just a mock drill, it made me realize how important it is to stay alert in such scenarios. It was an eye-opener for many of us, and I think we are now more prepared to handle a real emergency if it ever occurs,” Anand Adhav added.

Among those present included Dr Dnyaneshwar Chavan, additional commissioner of police, Dr D Swami, superintendent of police, Thane Rural, Harishchandra Patil, additional district collector, Dr Sandeep Mane, resident deputy collector and CEO, district disaster management authority were among those present apart from senior officials from emergency services and government departments.