The Union Home Ministry (MHA) on Monday (May 5, 2025) asked several States to conduct mock drills for “effective civil defence” which includes operationalising air-raid warning signs, crash blackout measures, camouflaging vital installations and evacuation plans.
“Every State including those on the western border will do the mock-exercise beginning May 7. The finer details will be shared on Tuesday. Some States are better equipped and for others we will issue guidelines,” said the official.
The mock-drills are to begin countrywide May 7 and likely to continue till May 9, a senior government official said.
Around 4 lakh volunteers associated with the The Directorate General, Civil Defence under MHA will be roped in for the drill, the official said.
Government sources confirmed that this comes in the backdrop of escalating tension between India and Pakistan, in the wake of terrorist in Pahalgam on April 22, that left 26 people dead.
The Civil Defence department was raised in 1962 in the wake of the China war.
The official said mock-drills are routinely performed for disasters such as earthquakes, building collapse among others but air-sirens are used to prepare the public when there is an “external threat.”
The official explained that camouflaging of vital installation amounts to switching off all illumination including in the vicinity of the plants and vital buildings.
On Sunday, police conducted a 30 minute blackout drill at Firozpur district bordering Pakistan. The Ferozepur Cantonment Board issued an advisory and residents were asked to switch off lights from 9 p.m. – 9.30 p.m.
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