Sealdah rly division holds drill, creates war-like scene
Times of India | 8 May 2025
1234 Kolkata: A full-scale security drill simulating a war-like situation was carried out on Wednesday at the Sealdah divisional railway manager's (DRM) office in Kolkata. The purpose was to test and demonstrate the preparedness of the railway authorities and civil defence teams in the face of a hostile aerial attack.You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in KolkataThe exercise, which saw participation from railway staff, civil defence personnel, scouts and guides teams, besides school students, began with a mock alarm that prompted immediate crisis response actions. A realistic war-like scenario was created, with personnel enacting scenes of panic and injury caused by an aerial attack. Several participants lay motionless on the ground, simulating casualties, while others got back up after a second alarm to carry out rescue and relief operations.Railway staff and civil defence personnel demonstrated how to transport the injured to nearby medical facilities. The drill also included a session on emergency fire-fighting techniques in the event of a bomb or missile strike. One of the key highlights of the drill was the demonstration of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Trained personnel demonstrated CPR techniques. DRM Sealdah, Rajiv Saxena, emphasized that the primary goal of the drill was to assess and enhance the effectiveness of wartime preparedness systems and communication links, including hotlines and radio systems. "We also wanted to evaluate the functionality of control rooms and drone surveillance setups," he said, adding special focus was also given to the implementation of crash blackout procedures and camouflaging vital infrastructure.Although there is a dedicated active siren installed at the DRM office, it was not used to avoid panic among passengers.