Civil Defence Mock Drills Resume in Border States and Haryana Amid Heightened Preparedness
Nationwide mock drills conducted following Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives;
Starting Thursday, civil defence mock drills will take place across four states bordering Pakistan—Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Jammu and Kashmir. These large-scale preparedness exercises come just weeks after India launched Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, followed by a bilateral agreement to cease all military activity.
Alongside, Haryana is set to conduct a major statewide civil defence exercise, Operation Shield, on May 29. Scheduled to begin at 5 PM across all 22 districts, the drill aims to strengthen emergency response systems and coordination among local authorities, defence personnel, and civilians.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has mandated civil defence drills in 244 districts across the country following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack. which claimed 26 civilian lives. This initiative, part of Operation Abhyaas, includes blackout simulations, air raid sirens, evacuation exercises, and public education sessions to prepare citizens for potential wartime scenarios.
In Haryana, Operation Shield will involve extensive participation from civil defence wardens, registered volunteers, and youth organisations such as the NCC, NSS, NYKS, and Bharat Scouts and Guides. A 15-minute controlled blackout is also planned at 8 PM in key areas, excluding critical services like hospitals, fire and police stations.
Speaking to Hindustan Times, Haryana’s Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Sumita Misra, emphasized that the exercise is intended to “test emergency mechanisms and improve inter-agency coordination.”
Meanwhile, during a rally in Gandhinagar on May 27, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reflected on the recent military action under *Operation Sindoor*. He revealed that nine terrorist hideouts were destroyed in just 22 minutes, and the entire operation was recorded to provide undeniable proof of India’s response.
Modi criticized Pakistan for holding state funerals for terrorists, stating that the line between proxy war and official military strategy had been erased. “We no longer call this a proxy war. When terrorists are given state honours, it becomes clear that terrorism is part of the state’s strategy,” he said.
He added, “This is a land of the brave. We do not seek conflict, but if war is imposed on us, we will respond decisively. Our goal remains peace and progress—not just for ourselves, but for the world.”