Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
A bomb scare created panic in Chandigarh’s Sector-17 after a suspicious object was reported near the Taj Banquet Hall. The information triggered an immediate alert, prompting police and multiple security agencies to rush to the spot.
The area around the hotel complex was quickly cordoned off, and guests and staff were evacuated as a precautionary measure. A search operation was launched amid heightened security concerns.
However, the situation was clarified shortly afterward when officials revealed that the entire operation was part of a mock drill conducted by the Chandigarh Police Operations Cell ahead of Independence Day.
According to officials, the exercise was aimed at testing the preparedness, rapid response capability, and coordination among police and emergency response agencies in dealing with a possible real-life threat scenario.
As part of the drill, Operations Cell commandos followed standard operating procedures by sealing the suspected area and shifting people to safe locations. Teams from the HIT unit, Bomb Detection Squad, and Dog Squad then carried out a detailed search of the hotel premises.
During the operation, a dummy improvised explosive device (IED) was recovered near a letter box close to the banquet hall. The entire area was subsequently sanitized again to ensure that no other suspicious object was present.
Multiple agencies participate in exercise
The mock drill involved several units of the Chandigarh Police and emergency services, including:
Quick Response Team (QRT), PCR units, Dial-112 emergency response, Fire Brigade, Civil Defence, Bomb Detection Squad, Dog Squad, Mobile Forensic Team, District Crime Cell, Crime Branch
Officials said such exercises are conducted periodically to strengthen coordination among various agencies and ensure a swift and effective response during any emergency situation, especially in the run-up to national events such as Independence Day.
