India has been conducting nationwide mock drills on May 7 to test its emergency preparedness following the Pahalgam terror attack. The drill, involving over 10,000 volunteers, tested air-raid warning systems, shelter readiness, and evacuation procedures in designated states. Civil defence volunteers- including NCC cadets, home guards, and students- participated in the simulations to prepare for potential hostile situations. But will the mock drill continue today? Will it be conducted again? Here’s everything you need to know.
Blackout Drill Resumes In Amritsar; Residents Told To Stay Indoors Amid High Alert
Amritsar witnessed a second round of blackout drills early Thursday morning as part of a nationwide civil defence exercise. The lights went out around 1:30 am, and residents were asked to remain indoors and avoid panic. The district administration issued a public message saying, “Taking utmost caution, the Amritsar district administration has again started the blackout drill.” Residents were advised to switch off all exterior lights, not step outside, and stay calm.
Many people, especially families with children and elderly members, were unsure of what was happening. Some said they were caught off guard by the timing.
The first drill had already taken place from 10:30 pm to 11 pm. This second round came just hours after India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’, targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
While many supported the idea of preparedness, some residents said clearer communication in advance would have helped reduce anxiety.
Mock Drills Held In Dehradun
Officials held mock drills at multiple locations across Dehradun to assess the emergency response system’s ability to handle situations like air strikes and ensure public safety. They said the exercises also aimed to educate people on how to protect themselves during such emergencies.
Locations like Dhara Police Chowki, Blind School Rajpur Road, Lakkhibagh Police Station, the Collectorate, ISBT, and Araghar Police Chowki were part of the drill. Local residents, police, and civil defence teams actively participated in the simulations, with many witnessing such drills for the first time.
Top officials, including Secretary (Home) Shailesh Bagauli, DGP Deepam Seth, and Secretary (Disaster Management and Rehabilitation) Vinod Kumar Suman, monitored the drills from the State Emergency Operations Centre.
Dehradun District Magistrate Savin Bansal and his team stayed virtually connected to the operations centre throughout and regularly updated senior officials on how they carried out the drills in the field.
May 7
India carried out a nationwide civil defence exercise, “Operation Abhyaas,” on Wednesday. It featured drills simulating air raids, fire emergencies, rescue operations, and other emergency scenarios across multiple states and Union Territories.
MHA announced mock drill across numerous states and UTs, including Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Assam, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur. The drills were conducted in designated districts, including several schools where children were taught how to respond in case of an emergency or war-like situation.
Will There Be More Mock Drills?
Yes, if the situation remains tense, the nation will witness additional civil defence mock drills. Another round of drills is expected soon, to be carried out across all states and Union Territories.
