With escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, India's Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notification to all states of India to conduct a civil defence mock drill on May 7. The Civil Defence mock drill will be held in 244 districts of the country tomorrow, on 7th May. A meeting was held in the Home Ministry on Tuesday regarding its preparations, in which many high-ranking officers, including Chief Secretaries of the states, Civil Defence Chiefs, participated.A senior officer who attended the meeting informed True Scoop that more districts can be added where mock drills will take place starting from tomorrow. The list has been shared based on the 1971 war with Pakistan.
In the mock drill, citizens will be trained to protect themselves during war. Sirens warning of air raids will be played. Blackout will be done during this. The mock drill is important for all states, especially for states in border areas like Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, and Rajasthan. These areas are considered more vulnerable in the event of a potential war due to their proximity to international borders. War sirens are typically installed on high points in administrative buildings, police headquarters, fire stations, military bases, and densely populated urban areas. Their goal is to ensure maximum reach of the warning signal. Sensitive regions in cities like Delhi and Noida have been prioritized for these installations.
List of districts in Punjab that will undergo civil defence mock drill tomorrow-
Who will conduct mock drills?
The Ministry of Home Affairs has instructed every participating district and state to involve a wide range of personnel and volunteers:
District Authorities for coordination
Home Guards and Civil Defence Wardens for ground operations
NCC, NSS, NYKS volunteers, and students for awareness and support roles
After the drill, each state and union territory must submit an "Action Taken Report" documenting the event, response gaps, and recommendations.
What are the objectives of the mock drill?
MHA, in its notification, has directed the civil defence mock drill to check-
- To assess the effectiveness of air raid warning systems.
- Operationalization of Hotline/Radio Communication Links with the Indian Air Force.
- To test the functionality of control rooms and shadow control rooms.
- Training of civilians, students, etc., on the civil defence aspects to protect themselves in the event of a hostile attack.
- Provision of crash blackout measures.
- Provision for early camouflaging of vital plants / installations.
- To verify the activation and response of Civil Defence services, including wardens' services, firefighting, rescue operations, and depot management.
- To assess the implementation of crash blackout measures.
- To evaluate the preparedness of evacuation plans and their execution.
Notably, a blackout practice was conducted in Punjab's Ferozepur cantonment on Sunday-Monday night. During this time, electricity was cut off in villages and localities from 9 pm to 9:30 pm.
What to do when the Air Sirens get sounded tomorrow?
If you hear the blaring sound tomorrow, below are the steps you need to follow-
- Do not panic, especially during the drill.
- Move away from open areas and seek shelter indoors.
- Go to a safe building, preferably with sturdy walls or a basement.
- Stay alert by following updates on TV, radio, or government apps.
- Avoid rumors and always follow official instructions.
What to do after the Air Siren goes off?
The purpose of a civil defence mock drill is to teach citizens how to stay calm and respond correctly during a real emergency. Listen to official instructions, and take it as an opportunity to learn how to protect yourself and your family. There is no need to panic.
India-Pakistan Tensions
As a potential war with Pakistan is looming, reports suggest that India will get the warship Tamal from Russia this month. Russia will hand it over to the Indian Navy on 28th May. This warship will be equipped with a Brahmos missile, which will not even come under the radar.
On the other hand, Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif claimed that India can take military action on the Line of Control (LoC) at any time. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is pushing the region to the brink of nuclear war for political gains.
Tensions are increasing between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack on 22nd April. In this attack, 26 tourists were killed in a terrorist attack backed by Pakistan.
The last time such a mock drill was conducted in the country was in 1971. At that time, there was a war between India and Pakistan. This mock drill was conducted during the war. H