Cops set off crackers in mall for mock terror drill

Shoppers were caught off guard at a mall in west Delhi on Wednesday when the police conducted a mock drill to check the safety provisions and their preparedness to tackle exigencies, reports HT Correspondent.

Shoppers were caught off guard at a mall in west Delhi on Wednesday evening when the police conducted a mock drill to check the safety provisions and their preparedness to tackle exigencies. The mall was emptied when news spread that there was an explosion in a dustbin inside the mall.

HT Image

“We wanted to check the safety provisions in the mall. We exploded some crackers in the mall and the people were evacuated,” said Sharad Agarwal, DCP (west).

The mock drill was conducted at TDI Mall in Rajouri Garden.

The shopkeepers were asked to remain in their shops while the drill was on. Fire officials and ambulances were pressed into action.

“We had conducted a meeting with several officials of the shopping malls in the past one week. We have briefed them about the security guidelines that they are required to meet,” said Agarwal. The parking lot was vacated and the security officials at the mall were roped in to control the explosions. The drill started at 4 pm and continued till 5 pm on Wednesday.

There was a panic among the shoppers who had gone to the mall. “To reduce the panic, the mall authorities continuously announced on the public address system that a mock drill was under process and they should leave the premises immediately,” said Agarwal.