In a major push for national preparedness, India will be holding huge civil defence mock drill at over 250 locations in 33 states and union territories on May 7. It’s the first of its kind mass drill since the 1971 Indo-Pak war, which speaks volumes about the gravity of the geopolitical situation in the wake of the April 22 terror attack at Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on May 5 instructed state and district administrations to hold the drills with complete civilian involvement. The drills are aimed at testing the country’s readiness for hostile action, particularly in the form of air raids, and to make people aware about emergency response systems.
During the exercise, air raid sirens will blare in multiple cities and towns, signaling a simulated attack. Civilians, including students, will be trained in various civil defence techniques such as taking cover, using shelters, and reacting swiftly to blackout alerts.
Main and reserve control rooms will be utilized to observe the coordination of simulated emergency operations. One of the main elements of the exercise is the organization of hotline and radio communication lines with the Indian Air Force. The exercise is intended to check the combined capability of civil defense units and military forces in wartime conditions of potential operations. Civil defense services, such as warden groups, rescue teams, fire-fighting units, and depot management teams, will also be checked.
Another key aspect will be the implementation of crash blackout measures. Residents in participating areas will be instructed to switch off lights and cover windows, simulating a city under aerial threat. Authorities will also inspect the readiness of critical infrastructure for early camouflaging, especially vital plants and installations that may be targeted during a conflict. Evacuation plans are also under scrutiny. District administrations will rehearse the movement of civilians from high-risk zones to safe shelters, while also ensuring that trenches and bunkers are cleaned and ready for use. Citizens are being encouraged to prepare emergency kits with medical supplies, torches, and candles in anticipation of mock scenarios.
The last major nationwide civil defence mock drill of this nature was conducted in 1971, coinciding with the war that led to the creation of Bangladesh. Since then, there have been localized exercises but never so large and synchronized. The decision to resume full-scale preparedness exercises comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a stern warning to the culprits of the Pahalgam attack, promising to catch them. With tensions still running high, the simulated exercises are both a tactical precaution and a reminder to citizens of the necessity of being ready in case of modern threats.
