Students, teachers guided on disaster preparedness in Delhi schools; mock drills conducted

NEW DELHI: Students and teachers across Delhi took part in a safety drill on Wednesday, aimed at strengthening emergency preparedness that included practising orderly evacuations, taking shelter under desks, and switching off electrical appliances when the siren sounded. The drill was conducted on the instructions of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which had asked all states and Union Territories to organise such exercises in light of the ''new and complex threats'' following the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam.

At Amity School in Saket, Principal Divya Bhatia said the exercise began at 8.45 am with a briefing during the morning assembly. "We explained the purpose of the mock drill and the steps students needed to follow. After the briefing, we conducted the drill so they could understand the process in a hands-on manner," she said. The drill started with a siren, prompting students to switch off electrical appliances and take cover under their desks or near walls. Once the siren ended, they placed their school bags over their heads and calmly moved to a designated safe area, Bhatia explained.

Evacuation steps explained clearly

"Initially, the younger students thought it was a fun activity. But when the siren went off and the power was cut, a few got scared. Senior students helped calm them down. Overall, everyone was cooperative and followed the instructions well," she added. Some students also asked teachers what to do in case of emergencies at home. "We guided them on basic safety tips like turning off appliances, keeping doors and windows shut, and staying calm," she said. Mallikarjun Premanand, principal of Tagore International School in East of Kailash, said students were first shown an instructional video provided by the Education Department.

"We explained the purpose of the drill and walked them through the correct emergency steps. It helped them better understand evacuation procedures," she said. "To reassure them, we reminded students that our armed forces are always there to protect us. That seemed to give them a sense of security," she added. BJP MLA Shikha Rai also visited the school and praised the students for their participation. Deepti Vohra, principal of DPS Vasant Kunj, said the day featured awareness sessions, live demonstrations, and emergency training across all classes.

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Operation Abhyaas launched citywide

"Special attention was given to junior students. Teachers gave them clear, age-appropriate instructions and guided them through each step to ensure they felt safe and understood the process," she said. For senior students, curated videos on emergency preparedness were shown in a hall, while other classes watched them on smart boards to ensure everyone could take part. The Delhi government has named the initiative 'Operation Abhyaas'. The drill is being conducted at 55 locations across the city, with support from the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), civil defence volunteers, home guards, and youth groups such as NCC, NSS, and NYKS.

"All schools are required to ensure full participation and extend support to the visiting DDMA teams," the Directorate of Education (DoE) said in a circular issued Tuesday, stressing the need to promote a culture of safety, preparedness, and civic responsibility. Schools have been asked to submit reports along with photographs to their respective district education offices by the end of the day, the department said.