Media Release
Udupi, May 19: A high-intensity mock drill simulating a drone bomb attack was conducted at the Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited (ISPRL) facility located in Padur village, Kapu taluk, Udupi district.
As part of the exercise, flames were seen emerging both inside and outside the company premises around 4 pm on Sunday, following a simulated drone-triggered explosion.
Immediately after the mock explosion, sirens were sounded, and alerts were issued to the district administration and police control room.
The ISPRL's in-house fire engine responded quickly to douse the flames inside the premises, while Adani Group's fire engine addressed the fire at the outer area, extinguishing it within 4–5 minutes before assisting with the inner premises.
Firefighting units from Karkala also joined the operation. Personnel from the Kapu police station arrived on the scene and initiated emergency response measures. Around 35 workers inside the facility reportedly sustained varying degrees of simulated injuries. They were safely evacuated by fellow employees, and traffic movement in the vicinity was managed effectively by police teams.
A medical team from the Shirva Primary Health Centre reached the site and conducted triage based on injury severity. Primary medical aid was administered, and the injured were transported via ambulances to nearby hospitals for further treatment.
The bomb disposal squad, accompanied by sniffer dogs, arrived to inspect for any potential live explosives.
The Quick Reaction Force also reported to the site to secure the area. Within 40 minutes of the incident, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team from Mangaluru reached the site, assisted with medical treatment, and helped in transporting the injured.
As part of the simulation, two mock fatalities were reported. Twelve individuals were shifted to a hospital in Kapu, while twenty others were taken to the community health center in Shirva. One person's identity remains unconfirmed and is said to be in the ICU.
Residents living near the mock incident area were temporarily relocated to a designated care center by the Revenue Department team as a precaution.
The drill also included a second drone attack simulation, which narrowly missed its target and landed near the ISPRL gate, causing minimal damage. The DR team's quick response ensured the drone was safely neutralized. By 4:55 pm, the fire-fighting operation was fully completed. Deputy commissioner Dr K Vidyakumari and senior police officials inspected the site and interacted with the ‘injured.’
The mock drill concluded at 5:33 pm, having successfully brought the simulated emergency situation under control.
The large-scale disaster preparedness exercise, dubbed ‘Operation Abhyas,’ involved the participation of over 270 personnel. The drill aimed to simulate a coordinated response to a dual-threat scenario bomb explosion and fire outbreak originating from a drone attack.
Departments involved included the Revenue Department, Police, Fire and Emergency Services, Industrial Security Force, Coastal Security Force, RTO, Health Department, MESCOM, SDRF, Home Guards, and ISPRL’s own security staff.
Speaking after the drill, deputy commissioner Dr K Vidyakumari, who also chairs the District Disaster Management Authority, said the mock drill was aimed at preparing for both natural and man-made disasters. "The focus was on protecting human life and property during a crisis. Every department performed its duties meticulously, bringing the situation under control swiftly," she said.
She highlighted the swift response by the SDRF team, which arrived within 40 minutes of the simulated incident, as a key achievement of the drill.
For real-life emergencies, she reminded the public to contact the District Disaster Management Authority at 0820-2574802 or 1077, and the Police Helpline at 112 or 0820-2526444. She added that similar mock drills would be conducted in other key locations of the district in the coming days.
Present during the operation were district superintendent of police Dr Arun K, ASP P A Hegde, assistant commissioner Rashmi S, ISPRL site in-Charge G K Yuvaraj, Kapu Tahsildar Pratibha, MESCOM superintendent Dinesh Upadhyay, RTO L P Nayak, disaster management expert Ravi Ojanahalli, and other senior officials.