Mock drills held in more than 800 schools in Bokaro to prepare students for crisis situations

BOKARO: As sirens blared across schools in the early hours on Wednesday, students quickly took shelter under their desks, using their school bags as protective shields over their heads. The exercise aimed to prepare students for emergency scenarios, focusing on maintaining calm, discipline, and ensuring personal safety.

A district-wide mock drill was conducted in the morning in more than 800 govt and private schools as part of an emergency preparedness initiative nationally. The drill was organised by the district administration in collaboration with the education department and the disaster management authority, amid the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. Bokaro and Gomia are categorised as one of the 244 Civil Defence Districts where mock drills are being conducted nationwide today.

District Education Officer (DEO) Jagarnath Lohra addressed principals of 847 schools, including institutions like DPS, GGPS, Chinmaya Vidyalaya, and Sree Ayyappa Public School, among others, through video conferencing. “I provided comprehensive guidelines on how to conduct blackout drills and ensure that students understand the precautions to be taken during such scenarios,” said Lohra to TOI.

“Students were taught that during a blackout, all lights—including those in homes, gardens, and streets—must be turned off. Curtains should be drawn on all windows and doors, and the use of inverters, generators, and vehicle headlights must be avoided,” Lohra said. These steps are designed to minimise visibility during a potential air raid, which could reduce the risk of targeting by enemy forces.
The concept of a blackout was also explained to students. In the event of a war or aerial threat, visible lights from cities can become targets for enemy attacks. By plunging an area into darkness, the chances of detection from the air are greatly reduced, potentially saving lives and property.

At Guru Gobind Singh Public School (GGPS) Sector 5, Principal Somen Chakraborty said the drill was to create awareness over fear. “The objective is not to alarm students, but to educate them. If they know what to do in a crisis, they’ll act wisely and calmly,” he said. Other school principals said that the overall goal of the drill was to instill a sense of readiness and resilience in the face of any emergency.