Gujarat blackout: 18 districts conduct successful drills, but civic awareness mixed

Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan, the border state of Gujarat observed a coordinated blackout and mock civil defence drill on Wednesday across 18 districts. While the operation was largely successful and saw significant public participation, lapses in civic awareness were also reported in certain urban pockets. 

Residents, housing societies, commercial establishments, and public institutions voluntarily turned off lights during designated hours, as part of a state-wide emergency preparedness exercise. In Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Mehsana, Patan, Banaskantha, and Bhavnagar, blackouts were scheduled from 8.30 to 9.00 pm. Several key areas, including Makarba, Satellite, Vejalpur, Prahlad Nagar, and Navrangpura, went dark as planned.

In some parts of Ahmedabad, streetlights remained off even after the drill ended, as a continued precaution.

Some areas fail to comply

However, compliance was inconsistent. Notably, parts of Sindhu Bhavan Road and upscale localities like Bopal failed to follow blackout protocols.

“Some parts of the Sindhu Bhavan area did not see a blackout. Even some famous seven-star hotels in the area kept the lights on,” said Shilpi Thacker, an advertising content strategist and resident of the area.

“We need to learn civic sense first, and then the civil defence,” she told Gujarat Samachar Digital.

In some housing societies like Orchid Whitefield in Makarba, residents took it upon themselves to enforce compliance. “Light bandh karo!” rang out as neighbours urged others to switch off their lights.

Despite repeated advisories, some individuals were seen stepping out in their vehicles to observe the blackout, flouting safety protocols that advised citizens to stay indoors during the exercise.

State-wide coordination and sirens

The blackout was part of a larger emergency preparedness drill involving war sirens, civil defence personnel, and public participation. Mock sirens were sounded at 74 locations across Gujarat to simulate wartime scenarios. The operation was coordinated from the State Emergency Centre in Gandhinagar.

The Dangs, Bharuch, Navsari, Narmada, Surat, Vadodara, and Tapi observed blackouts from 7.30 to 8.00 pm, while Jamnagar, Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, Gir Somnath, and Morbi observed them between 8.00 and 8.30 pm.

Nearly 24,000 people involved

A total of 13,796 civilians and close to 10,000 civil defence personnel participated in the drill. Authorities said the primary goal was to test readiness, improve coordination, and increase public awareness about wartime or disaster response.

In Ahmedabad, the mock drills were carried out at:

• Palladium Mall
• Vatva GIDC
• Dhandhuka Municipality
• Viramgam Tank Farm
• Power Grid Station, Pirana
• Gallops Industrial Park, Changodar
• Ganeshpura Koth Mandir
• Sanand GIDC Tata Plant