Inside Pune Airport's High-Stakes Terror Drill – First-Hand Look At How Agencies Prepare For The Worst

By Prashant for PuneriPages.in

Last week, I found myself at Pune Airport watching a scene straight out of an action movie—only this was no blockbuster, it was a drill. For a few hours, the usual buzz of check-ins and boarding calls gave way to a tense, orchestrated chaos: a simulated terrorist attack in the terminal. No real danger, but very real training. This was our city’s security forces putting their skills to the ultimate test.

🕵️ Quick Facts

What: Full-scale counter-terrorism drill
Where: Pune International Airport
Who: CISF, Pune Police QRT, ATS, IB, Bomb Squad, Fire Brigade
Why: To make sure that, if the unthinkable happens, we’re ready.

💂 Meet the Teams

CISF (Central Industrial Security Force): The first line of defense—quick to react, secure passengers, and seal off danger zones.
Pune Police Quick Response Team (QRT): Storming in from outside to neutralize threats.
ATS & IB: Working behind the scenes to connect the dots and uncover bigger plots.
Bomb Squad & Fire Brigade: Handling explosives, fires, and medical aid when every second matters.

🛠️ Why This Matters

Teamwork Under Pressure: Perfecting the hand-off between agencies.
Speed Counts: Timing the arrival and engagement of reinforcements.
Instinctive Response: Drilling actions until they’re second nature.
Fixing Weak Spots: Identifying what needs to improve—before it matters for real.

💬 What Officials Say

“These exercises sharpen our coordination and ensure everyone knows exactly what to do,” a senior officer told me. You could hear the pride—and the seriousness—in his voice.

🛋 For the Rest of Us

Yes, it’s a bit startling to see armed officers and staged chaos. But these drills are about readiness, not fear. They’re done at planned times so travelers aren’t disrupted, and they send one clear message: Pune takes your safety seriously.

By the end of the day, I walked away reassured. If trouble ever comes knocking, our city won’t just answer—it’ll be ready to shut the door on it fast.