On the night of June 1, cities across Rajasthan &mdash; including those bordering Pakistan &mdash; observed a scheduled blackout starting from 8 p.m., lasting between 15 to 25 minutes in various regions. Residents switched off lights in their homes, shops, and even vehicle headlights, leading to near-total darkness in some areas while others maintained selective lighting.
As part of &ldquo;Operation Shield,&rdquo; a state-wide mock drill simulating wartime emergency scenarios was carried out. In Jaipur, the exercise began at 8:15 p.m. from Khatipura Road to Hasanpura, simulating drone and missile attacks on a residential military colony. Officials responded as if nine civilians were caught in the blast &mdash; with one &ldquo;fatality&rdquo; and eight &ldquo;injuries.&rdquo; Rescue rehearsals included dramatic rooftop rescues using cranes as people pretended to cry out for help. Jaipur Collector Dr. Jitendra Soni was present during the operation, and NCC cadets also took part in the simulation.
However, in Jhalawar&rsquo;s Kalisindh Dam, a drone attack scenario turned unexpectedly real when a swarm of bees attacked officers and staff, including the Collector and SP, prompting a sudden scramble for safety and momentary chaos amid the exercise.
In Sikar, a similar airstrike drill was staged at Kalyan Medical College where four explosions were simulated. Emergency teams, including the fire brigade and police, quickly responded. A young girl reportedly became frightened during the chaos and was consoled by women police officers. Rescue operations included evacuating people from the fifth floor using ropes.
Ajmer observed a blackout from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., during which public street lights were turned off and markets shut down. In Barmer, the blackout also led to temporary closures and power cuts.
Authorities had issued advance alerts in residential areas, urging cooperation during the blackout and drills. While the mock drills were meant to strengthen emergency response preparedness, some unexpected events gave them a dose of unplanned realism.

Statewide blackout sparks chaos; mock drill in Jhalawar turns real as bees attack top officers

Blackout & Mock Drill Trigger Panic in Rajasthan

Statewide blackout sparks chaos; mock drill in Jhalawar turns real as bees attack top officers

June 1, 2025 | 16:50 IST