Mock Drill Across India On May 7: Air Raid Sirens, Evacuation Drills And More — Check Details

India will conduct a full-scale Civil Defence Mock Drill on May 7 across all designated Civil Defence towns and districts. This marks the first coordinated countrywide drill of its kind since 1971. The exercise comes weeks after a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which left 26 civilians dead and heightened focus on emergency preparedness.

As per the Ministry of Home Affairs, the exercise will simulate hostile scenarios to test readiness at the local level. It will include:

• Sounding of air raid sirens in urban and semi-urban areas

• Use of emergency communication systems including radio and hotline links with armed forces

• Training of school students, civil volunteers, and residents in basic safety and protective measures

• Setting up shadow control rooms to assess command readiness

• Switching off power in select areas to practice blackout protocols

• Early camouflaging of critical facilities like power stations and refineries

• Evacuation drills and rehearsals of localised safety plans

State governments and Union Territories have been instructed to carry out the drill in coordination with local authorities. The exercise will involve Civil Defence Wardens, Home Guards, district officials, and voluntary organisations like NCC, NSS, NYKS, and school groups. The Directorate General of Civil Defence will oversee the implementation and collect performance reports post-event.

This is the first time India is holding such a widespread Civil Defence rehearsal since the 1971 Indo-Pakistan conflict. During that period, local administrations were trained to carry out blackout drills and prepare civilians for the risk of aerial bombardments.

The 2025 drill aims to reintroduce those systems in a modern context, with added emphasis on rapid communication and coordinated evacuation strategies.

The drill follows the April 22 incident in Pahalgam, where armed militants opened fire on a group of tourists in Baisaran Valley. The attack, which killed over two dozen civilians, has led to increased focus on preparing civil areas for emergency response. The Home Ministry has emphasised the need to strengthen grassroots-level systems to deal with sudden threats, including attacks on populated or strategic locations.