The unit had hired two gliders from the Vadodara Flying Club, which passed twice from over the `city square,' set up temporarily, by assembling a few dozen larriwallas. Gliders dropped `bombs' which were actually crackers.Sirens were sounded as soon as the `bombs' were dropped on the larries and civil defence volunteers rushed to rescue people there.

Speaking on the occasion, Additional Commissioner of Police M K Tandon said that Vadodara was one of the most vulnerable cities because of location of petroleum and chemical units and hence it was necessary to educate its people what steps should be taken in case of an eventuality. The unit also demonstrated how to detect a bomb and dispose it.

Tandon urged people to join the civil defence in a big way so that they could be useful to the nation in times of crisis. People of all professions like those from medicine, health and fire department are free to join the organisation, he added.

Praising the invaluable services rendered by the civil defence personnel, Police Commissioner Kuldip Sharma said that while policemen and security personnel were paid for the services they rendered, the civil defence provided voluntary service.