New Delhi: In a significant move to bolster national security, the Indian government has announced that air raid sirens will sound across the country on May 7 as part of nationwide mock drills aimed at preparing civilians for self-protection in the event of a conflict. This exercise, the first of its kind since the 1971 war, comes in response to the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, and escalating tensions with neighboring Pakistan.
On May 5, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued an official directive to all states, instructing them to carry out these drills to ensure readiness in case of a hostile attack. The exercises will involve the activation of air raid warning sirens, and citizens—including students—will undergo civil defense training to learn how to protect themselves during an emergency.
The mock drills will include several key measures, such as crash blackout procedures, early camouflaging of vital installations, and rehearsing updated evacuation plans. These exercises will test the country’s preparedness for potential threats and simulate a response to attacks similar to those of previous conflicts, including the 1971 India-Pakistan war, when such drills were last conducted.
The objectives of the drills include:
- Testing the efficiency of air raid warning systems.
- Operationalizing communication links with the Indian Air Force.
- Ensuring the functionality of control rooms and shadow control rooms.
- Training civilians, students, and others in civil defense measures for self-protection.
- Implementing crash blackout procedures.
- Camouflaging key infrastructure to minimize vulnerabilities.
- Assessing the readiness of Civil Defence services, including firefighting, rescue operations, and warden services.
- Rehearsing updated evacuation plans and evaluating the management of shelters such as bunkers and trenches.
What will happen during the mock drills?
- Activation of air raid sirens across various regions.
- Establishment of communication links with the Indian Air Force through hotlines and radio.
- Operation of control rooms, along with shadow control rooms to simulate emergency situations.
- Civil defense training, where citizens will be briefed on necessary protective actions.
- Deployment of Civil Defence services to manage firefighting, rescue operations, and other essential services.
- Crash blackout measures to simulate power shutdowns during an attack.
- Camouflaging of vital installations to reduce their visibility to potential enemies.
- Rehearsals of updated evacuation plans, with emphasis on the use of bunkers and trenches.
