Nationwide civil defence mock drill in India on May 7 following Pahalgam terror attack: All you need to know

NEW DELHI: The ministry of home affairs in light of rising security concerns following the Pahalgam terror attack will conduct a nationwide civil defence mock drill across 244 districts on May 7, aimed at enhancing emergency preparedness and public safety mechanisms. Union home secretary Govind Mohan is set to review the preparations with chief secretaries and civil defence heads from across the country in a video conference on Tuesday.According to an official communication from the directorate general of fire services, civil defence and home guards, the mock drills will involve operationalising air-raid warning sirens, cleaning and restoring bunkers and trenches, and training civilians on protective measures during hostile attacks.Also Read | Mock Drills in India Live UpdatesOther key activities include implementing crash-blackout protocols, camouflaging vital installations, updating evacuation plans, and testing communication lines with the Indian Air Force through hotline and radio systems. Control rooms and shadow control rooms will also be tested for operational readiness.“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 ministry stated.The exercise will be held down to the village level and will see participation from civil defence wardens, home guards, NCC and NSS cadets, NYKS volunteers, and school and college students.The civil defence drill follows a deadly terror attack in south Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22, which left 26 people dead, mostly tourists. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice, saying they would be pursued “to the ends of the earth.”A civil defence mock drill is a simulated emergency exercise designed to prepare civilians and authorities for potential threats such as war, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, or other hostile situations. The goal is to test the readiness of civil defence systems and to train people on how to respond effectively in real-life emergencies.