Bhubaneswar: The Urban Police District (UPD), Bhubaneswar, in coordination with the Directorate General of Fire Services, Home Guards & Civil Defence, Odisha, today conducted a mock drill focused on advanced first aid and safe evacuation procedures to strengthen emergency preparedness during the ongoing Puja festival.

Special Rescue Units (SRUs) of the Fire and Home Guards department are specially trained in advanced first aid, Basic Life Support (BLS), CPR, oxygen administration, crowd management, and rescue operations. The mock drill tested coordination between police and SRU personnel in simulated emergency scenarios, including medical emergencies and the need for rapid, safe evacuation of crowds from festival venues.

As part of the preparedness measures, eight SRU teams have been requisitioned and stationed at strategic locations throughout Bhubaneswar. These teams are ready to respond swiftly to any exigencies that may arise during the festive period, when large numbers of devotees gather at puja pandals across the city.

The joint exercise underscores the commitment of the Commissionerate of Police, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack, and the Fire Services & Home Guards department to ensure the safety and well-being of the public. Authorities have appealed to puja committees, volunteers, and citizens to cooperate with the deployed teams and follow safety guidelines.

The deployment will remain in place throughout the festival to enable a prompt and effective response to any emergency.