A large-scale civil defense exercise, code-named "Operation Shield," will be held in Jalandhar on May 31, 2025, as part of a statewide readiness drill. Operation is taking place under urgent orders from the Punjab Home Guards & Civil Defence Department, in pursuance of directions from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
According to the May 29, 2025, official order, all Deputy Commissioners in Punjab have been instructed to conduct the 2nd Civil Defense Exercise, "Operation Shield." The motive is to improve preparedness against any possible hostile action, particularly in border areas.
At Jalandhar, Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Agarwal has ensured the district's complete participation in the exercise. Revealing information to the media, DC Agarwal made the following announcement:
Mock drill will be organized from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Bhagat Namdev Chowk, Jalandhar.
This will be followed by a city-wide blackout from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
The blackout will be implemented in most areas of Jalandhar city, with the airport, hospitals, and shopping malls being exempted. DC Agarwal has appealed to all the citizens to follow the guidelines set by the administration to the letter so that the exercise is effective as well as safe.
All the districts have been asked to file an Action Taken Report after the drill, which will be collated and sent to the Government of India for examination. These instructions have been given on approval from the Special Director General of Police, Home Guards & Civil Defence, Punjab.
"Today's drill is a preventive measure to prepare our systems and citizens to meet any actual emergency," said DC Himanshu Agarwal. He has requested the public to cooperate fully with the administration and give the exercise serious consideration.