As part of a nationwide emergency preparedness initiative, Pune district authorities expanded the number of mock drill locations from three to six on Wednesday. Initially, the drills were scheduled at Council Hall, Mulshi Panchayat Samiti, and Talegaon Municipal Council. However, following a high-level coordination meeting chaired by District Collector Jitendra Dudi, the exercise was extended to include Vanaz Industrial Estate, Pune Municipal Corporation, and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation. The objective is to assess the district’s readiness in case of a hostile attack and to improve coordination among emergency response agencies.

During the review meeting held at the District Collector’s office, senior officials from the armed forces, police, fire department, and civil defence discussed the logistics of the drill. Those in attendance included Colonel Prashant Chatur, Deputy Controller of Civil Defence; Colonel Nishad Mangrulkar from NCC Pune Headquarters; and senior police officers from both rural and urban jurisdictions. Collector Dudi emphasized the importance of public cooperation and discipline during the drills and urged citizens not to panic or fall for misinformation.

The drills are being conducted under the directives of the Ministry of Home Affairs, which called for such exercises nationwide on May 7. The participating agencies in Pune include the armed forces, NDRF, SDRF, municipal bodies, college students from NCC and NSS, and Nehru Yuva Kendra volunteers. These simulations are designed to prepare agencies to respond swiftly and effectively in emergencies, thereby ensuring public safety and reducing potential casualties during real-life threats.