Amid heightened tension between India and Pakistan following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, the Ferozepur Cantonment Board conducted a rehearsal for a blackout for 30 minutes in the entire cantonment area. The electricity in the entire area was suspended for half an hour from 9 pm to 9:30 pm to test emergency protocols during potential war-like situations.
Speaking about the exercise, Gurjant Singh, Station House Officer at Ferozepur Cantt Police Station, said, “The blackout was done from 9 PM to 9:30 PM. As per the orders of the senior officers, lights were fully switched off. If any vehicle was found with their light turned on, it was turned off… Police are fully alert. Deployment has been made at all intersections.”
The effort by the administration ensured that the blackout was enforced across public and private space and that the vehicular movement was monitored to ensure compliance.
In a statement, the Ferozepur Cantonment Board to Deputy Commissioner Deepshikha Sharma said that the blackout was part of a routine preparedness exercise.
Earlier, Deputy Inspector General Harmanbir Gill said the police were closely monitoring anti-social elements, known offenders, and smugglers. Vigilance has been ramped up at toll barriers to track vehicle movement, and social media activity is under active surveillance, he added.
The BSF has also intensified patrolling along the international border, while the Punjab Police have set up checkpoints at all strategic locations as a precautionary measure.
The security exercise comes in the wake of escalating tensions with Pakistan that India blames for orchestrating the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 tourists dead. India, in retaliation, suspended Pakistani visas, halted the Indus Waters Treaty, and taken other diplomatic and strategic steps.
On Sunday, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar said that a powerful India is tackling the Pahalgam terror challenge under able leadership.
Addressing faculty members and students of the Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Agriculture University in Gwalior, the vice president said, Bhartiyata is our identity, and there is no dharma above Rashtra Dharma. Rajamata's life was an inspiration. She lived a life of sacrifice and dedication. Today, Bharat is facing the Pahalgam challenge....but today there is a powerful Bharat with an able leadership, he said.