Operation Abhyas: Mock Drill Successfully Conducted by Civil Defence Navi Mumbai Group

📍Thane, May 11 – In line with directives from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, a large-scale mock drill titled Operation Abhyas was successfully conducted across several urban centres—including Kalyan, Ulhasnagar-3, Badlapur, Bhiwandi, Thane, Titwala, and Vashi—between May 7 and 13, 2025. The initiative was led by the Civil Defence Navi Mumbai Group through its Thane Office, aiming to assess and strengthen emergency preparedness mechanisms.

The comprehensive exercise featured live demonstrations of emergency response techniques, including search and rescue operations, fire evacuations, extraction of victims from collapsed structures, administration of first aid, emergency lifting procedures, and the construction of makeshift stretchers using locally available resources. Volunteers and responders also practiced patient transport protocols, ensuring timely transfer to nearby hospitals using ambulances.

The mock drill officially commenced following a civil defence siren alert at 4:05 PM, signaling a simulated emergency scenario. The exercise was coordinated from the Thane Internal Civil Defence Main Control Room and Welfare Office. Multiple government departments and agencies actively participated, showcasing seamless inter-agency coordination in crisis management.

Deputy Controller Vijay Jadhav of the Civil Defence Navi Mumbai Group, Thane, emphasized the significance of civil defence as India’s “fourth force.” He encouraged citizens—especially those who were unable to join the Army, Navy, or Air Force—to consider serving the nation through Civil Defence by meeting the eligibility criteria and enrolling as volunteers.

The drill underlines the importance of public readiness and institutional synergy in mitigating risks during real-life disasters.