New Delhi: In light of emerging “new and complex threats” within the “current geo-political scenario,” the Union Home Ministry has directed all states to conduct mock drills in the 244 designated civil defence districts tomorrow, Wednesday, May 7. First since 1971, this directive follows a series of high-level discussions in Delhi led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi concerning India’s response to the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, which tragically resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals.
Amid escalating tensions with India, the Union Home Ministry’s directive for nationwide mock drills in 244 civil defence districts tomorrow, Wednesday, May 7, also follows Pakistan’s second missile firing test in two days. This test was conducted under “Exercise INDUS,” with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stating that the successful launch “made it clear that Pakistan’s defence is in strong hands.”
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A letter from the Directorate General Fire Service, Civil Defence and Home Guards emphasized the rationale behind the order, stating, “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.”
Aimed at evaluating and strengthening the readiness of civil defence infrastructure against potential hostile attacks, tomorrow’s exercise is likely to evoke memories of past full-fledged conflicts, specifically the wars with China in 1962 and Pakistan in 1965 and 1971. The 244 designated civil defence districts encompass areas identified as susceptible to various threats.
These drills will simulate wartime conditions, including the activation of air raid sirens to assess their functionality and the operationalization of hotline or radio communication channels with the Indian Air Force. Furthermore, the exercise will involve testing the implementation of blackout protocols and assessing the feasibility of rapidly camouflaging critical facilities and infrastructure.
Scheduled for Wednesday, May 7—a date that may well stir recollections of the full-scale wars of 1962 (with China) and 1965 and 1971 (with Pakistan)—the exercise will also focus on verifying the operational status of control rooms and auxiliary control rooms. It will further assess the activation and response capabilities of civil defence units, such as warden services, firefighting teams, rescue operations, and depot management.
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