Nationwide Mock Drill On May 7: Check Full List Of Participating Districts And Cities
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a directive on May 5 instructing states to conduct mock drills, with special focus on 244 designated Civil Defence Districts.
The central government has directed states and Union Territories to carry out a countrywide mock drill on May 7 at 244 locations, including major cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai.
The large-scale preparedness operation comes in the wake of escalating tensions with Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, in which 26 people were killed.
The exercise will mark one of the most extensive civil defence drills in India since 1971. The security exercise is aimed at testing first-response capabilities in scenarios such as air raids and blackout conditions. Residents in participating districts have been advised to remain alert and prepared with basic emergency supplies such as torches, candles, medical kits and cash.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a directive on May 5 instructing states to conduct mock drills, with special focus on 244 designated Civil Defence Districts. These include several sensitive regions including the locations in border states, such as Punjab, Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir, West Bengal and the Northeast region.
Mock Drill: Full List Of 244 Locations
A high-level meeting chaired by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan on Tuesday was attended by Chief Secretaries and Civil Defence heads from various states. The meeting was convened to evaluate the readiness of civil defence infrastructure, according to a PTI report.
These drills will simulate a variety of emergency situations, including the sounding of air raid sirens, power shutdowns and crowd control measures. Emphasis will also be placed on educating the public about immediate steps to take in the event of such emergencies.
According to reports, the mock drills will also involve activating hotline and radio communication links with the Indian Air Force (IAF), along with testing the functionality of both main and backup control rooms.
Authorities have urged citizens to stock up on essentials and remain aware of safety protocols. Over 100 of the designated districts fall under the ‘highly sensitive’ category.
The civil defence measures coincide with a spate of high-level national security discussions led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. These measures are taken in the light of Pakistan issuing warnings vowing a swift response, adding to an already tense cross-border atmosphere.
