Several places in Maharashtra are gearing up to conduct the the civil defence mock drills on May 7, based on the orders issued by the central government. Key districts including Mumbai, Pune, Thane and Nasik, among others, will be in focus as officials will execute these critical safety drills in public spaces, schools and government institutions.
The Union Home Ministry has issued an order asking all states to conduct mock drills across the 244 categorised civil defence districts on Wednesday, May 7. The Home Ministry directive comes in view of "new and complex threats" that have emerged following the heightened tensions with Pakistan after the Pulwama attack on April 22.
These drills will be organised in three categories, with category I mock drills focused in 13 cities, mainly state capitals. The key priorities of these drills will include raising awareness on tackling hostile attacks, protecting critical infrastructure, rehearsing evacuation plans, dealing with crash blackout situations, among other things. Civilians and students will be part of these public drills to boost preparedness to deal with unexpected emergencies.
Where Will Mock Drills Take Place In Maharashtra?
In Maharashtra, nearly a dozen districts have been shortlisted for the conduct of the civil defence mock drills. According to the ministry's orders, category I defence drills will take place in Mumbai, Uran and Tarapur.
Category II mock drills will take place in Thane, Pune, Nashik, Roha-Dhatav-Nagothane, Manmad, Sinnar, Thal Vaishyet, Pimpri-Chinchwad and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar
Three locations in Nashik district to host mock drills: Nashik, Manmad and Sinnar.
Category III drills will take place in Raigad, Ratnagiri, Bhusawal, Sindhudurg and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (earlier Aurangabad).
On May 5, the Ministry of Home Affairs ordered the state to conduct these drills in 244 identified civil defence districts of the country. “This exercise will be conducted at the village level. Its objective is to test the preparedness of the civil defence system in all the states and union territories and to make it more strong and effective,” an order issued by the ministry reads.
गृह मंत्रालय, भारत सरकार ने देश के 244 चिन्हित सिविल डिफेंस जिलों में 7 मई 2025 को सिविल डिफेंस अभ्यास और रिहर्सल आयोजित करने का निर्णय लिया है।
May 5, 2025
यह अभ्यास गांव स्तर तक आयोजित किया जाएगा। इसका उद्देश्य सभी राज्यों और केंद्र शासित प्रदेशों में सिविल डिफेंस व्यवस्था की तैयारी को… pic.twitter.com/ykZnOho5FNMeanwhile, ahead of the drills on Tuesday, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan is scheduled to review the preparations for the exercise. "The home secretary will review the preparations for civil defence being made across 244 districts,” PTI reported, adding that the meeting will be attended by Chief secretaries and heads of civil defence.
The order comes days after a massive terrorist attack took place in Pahalgam on April 22. At least 26 people, mostly tourists, were targeted by unidentified terrorists while holidaying in Jammu and Kashmir's scenic valley.
"In the current geo-political scenario, new and complex threats/challenges have emerged, hence, it would be prudent that optimum civil defence preparedness in the states/UTs is maintained at all times," the letter from the Directorate General Fire Service, Civil Defence and Home Guards to the states and Union Territories, said.
Besides civilians and students, civil-defence wardens, volunteers, home guards (active and reservists volunteers), National Cadet Corps (NCC), National Service Scheme (NSS), Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) are expected to participate in the event.
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