Pindi on high alert amid tensions with India
Students of GCU, Lahore, in a training session held by the Rescue-1122 a few days ago. PHOTO: ABID NAWAZ/EXPRESS
In light of a potential conflict between Pakistan and India, the Rawalpindi district administration and the Civil Defence Department have finalised emergency preparedness measures to deal with unforeseen emergencies. Sixteen emergency sirens installed across the city, including the central pilot siren at the Civil Defence Office, have been fully activated and updated.
Additionally, 38 rescue and monitoring checkpoints are now operational 24/7.
These include 24 posts managed by the Civil Defence Department and 14 by Rescue 1122, all staffed with personnel.
Civil Defence has also launched formal combat rescue training for its 3,500 volunteers and interested youth.
Training is being conducted at Rawalpindi Cantt police station, Mission Higher Secondary School in Raja Bazaar, and the Civil Defence Head Office.
Another training centre at Denny's Higher Secondary School will be operational within 24 hours.
For the first time, women volunteers are also receiving combat rescue training.
At the Civil Defence Head Office, they are being trained to rescue the injured, evacuate citizens from burning or collapsing buildings, and extinguish fires. Training is being conducted daily.
Sources reported that major city siren pointsKohinoor Mills, Railway Loco Shed, General Bus Stand Pirwadhai, Viqar-un-Nisa Postgraduate College, Workshops 501 and 502, Adiala Jail, Gawalmandi, Chohar Chowk, and Ratta Amralhave been updated, cleaned, and reactivated.
A new policy mandates that in any emergency or test scenario, the central pilot siren at the Civil Defence Office in Kacheri will sound first, followed by all area sirens.
Checkpoint personnel and volunteers are required to immediately report to their designated posts upon hearing the sirens.
District Officer Civil Defence, Talib Hussain, told The Express Tribune that whether in peace or crisis, the department remains on alert.
He said that under the strict supervision of Deputy Commissioner Hasan Waqar Cheema, all volunteers have been mobilised and are undergoing combat rescue drills. Senior instructors Nasir Kayani and Sadaf Zahoor are leading the practical sessions, while Halima Saadia is training the female volunteers.
According to Hussain, Civil Defence preparations in Rawalpindi are complete.
Firefighting and rescue equipment have been activated, staff leaves cancelled, and round-the-clock duties assigned.