Chandigarh to hold 10-minute blackout drill at 7.30 pm on Wednesday

The Chandigarh Administration has announced that a 10-minute blackout drill will be held in the city on Wednesday evening, May 7, 2025. This drill is part of a safety and emergency preparedness plan. It will take place from 7.30 pm to 7.40 pm. People in the city are being requested to switch off all electric lights and appliances during this short time.

The blackout is being organized following instructions from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The ministry has advised all states and union territories to carry out mock drills in light of new and complex security threats. These threats have come up after the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, which has caused tensions between India and Pakistan to rise.

Speaking to the press on Tuesday, Chandigarh Deputy Commissioner Nishan Kumar Yadav explained the plan. He said the blackout is a precautionary exercise. Its aim is to test the city’s readiness to deal with emergency situations. He said a siren will be sounded at exactly 7.30 pm, and it will continue to sound for the entire 10-minute period.

“We request all citizens to turn off the lights at their homes for 10 minutes,” said Yadav. “If possible, they should also stay inside their homes during this time to make the rehearsal more effective.”

The blackout drill is meant to prepare people for any real-life situation where lights may need to be turned off due to a security threat. Such situations could occur during times of war, terrorism, or natural disasters.

Cooperation from Public requested

The Deputy Commissioner added that the administration has already spoken with Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and market associations. They have been requested to support the blackout by spreading awareness among members and encouraging them to follow the instructions.

Shops, shopping malls, and market areas are also being asked to keep their lights off during the drill.

“If people are outside their homes at the time of the drill,” said the Deputy Commissioner, “they should park their vehicles by the roadside and turn off headlights as well as interior lights.”

He also appealed to people not to use inverters or generators during this 10-minute period. The idea is to create a real blackout environment across the city so that the effectiveness of the drill can be measured.

Importantly, Yadav clarified that hospitals, clinics, and medical institutions will not be affected. These places will not face any power cut, as they need electricity to run life-saving equipment and services. The blackout will not be enforced there.

He urged the public to remain calm and avoid any kind of panic. "This is just a practice exercise," he said. "There is no need to hoard petrol, diesel, ration, or any other essential items."

He added that this is not a surprise drill. It has been announced in advance so that people can prepare accordingly. The alarm will go off at 7.30 pm, and will stop at 7.40 pm. After that, everything will go back to normal, and businesses can run as usual.

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Drill Is voluntary, not mandatory

When asked whether people would be forced to take part, the Deputy Commissioner said the blackout is voluntary. People are being encouraged to participate, but there is no penalty for those who don’t.

The administration plans to review the drill afterwards to see what worked and what didn’t. If any shortcomings are noticed, they will be studied and corrected in future exercises.

This kind of drill is important to test how prepared the city is in case of an emergency or threat. Similar blackout drills have been conducted in other parts of the country before, especially during times of war-like situations or national emergencies.

The administration hopes that this will also help build public awareness. It teaches people what to do if there’s ever a situation where power needs to be shut off quickly for safety reasons.

People are also being asked to help spread the word so that more residents take part in this city-wide effort.

The administration is using various methods to inform the public, including social media, posters, and press releases.

The Deputy Commissioner ended his message by saying that the people of Chandigarh have always supported the administration in such efforts, and he hopes for the same cooperation this time.

He said that together, the city can stay better prepared and more secure.