Deputy Commandant General, Home Guards, Civil Defence & SDRF, Medozhalie Pienyu, during the debriefing of the Operation Night Guard Exercise Civil Defence air raid and blackout exercise, highlighted key observations on the conduct of the air raid and blackout drill.
He informed that the exercise, originally scheduled between April 20 and 24, was later aligned with NEPAx 2026 defence related operation, leading to a full day exercise followed by a night time blackout drill.
Reviewing feedback received from three to four districts, Pienyu stated that the warning system remains a major concern and needs to be properly established. He noted that this responsibility lies with the concerned departments, including the State Government, NSDMA, and the Air Force.
On the blackout implementation, he observed that although power supply was centrally switched off by the power department, public response was minimal. In many areas, inverter lights and other sources of illumination remained on. In the capital, vehicles continued to move instead of halting and taking shelter as per protocol.
He emphasized that these gaps highlight the urgent need to strengthen public awareness and participation. He called for coordinated efforts from the Information & Public Relations (IPR) department, media, and other stakeholders to educate the public and prevent panic during such exercises.
Despite the shortcomings, Pienyu noted a positive trend in inter-agency coordination, stating that collaboration among departments has improved significantly through repeated conduct of such preparedness exercises.
NSDMA Secretary Sentiwapang Aier stated that such emergency exercises are relatively new, there is significant scope for improvement, particularly in inter-agency coordination.
He noted that several districts reported issues during the blackout drill, including the continued use of power inverters and solar lighting, which need to be addressed for effective implementation.
Aier also highlighted the need for upgrading critical equipment such as radio communication sets, siren systems, and drone technology. He assured that these concerns have been duly noted and will be taken up for improvement in future exercises.
Joint CEO of NSDMA, Dr Johnny Ruangmei expressed gratitude to officials, district SPs, and stakeholders for their participation in the air raid and blackout exercise conducted as per directives of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
He informed that such exercises are to be held twice a year, with another round likely in November. He also stated that a detailed review of the NEPEx exercise will be undertaken to identify gaps and improve preparedness.
The debriefing concluded with a call for continued efforts to enhance readiness and ensure effective response mechanisms in real-life emergency situations.
(Esuihangle IA)
