Bhubaneswar, July 29 - A two-day drill spearheaded by the Indian Navy started off the Orissa coast Wednesday to assess the effectiveness of coastal security, an official said.

The state police, Central Industrial Security Force, port, custom and fisheries officials and private security agencies posted at the ports and industrial establishments are also taking part in the drill.

'It is a simulated drill, wherein the entire security team would be divided into two groups. One is the intruder group and the other one will thwart the attack,' said Commander P.J. Singh of Indian Navy.

The 48-hour exercise would try to thwart an 'intrusion bid' from the sea similar to the attack in Mumbai Nov 26, 2008.