Civil defence mock drills to face any emergency will be held in the coming weeks across border states including Punjab, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir and Rajasthan amid ongoing tension between India and Pakistan.
A similar exercise as part of Operation Abhyaas was carried on May, seven hours before Operation Sindoor was launched. The upcoming mock drill comes weeks after the strikes against terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).
The primary objectives of a mock drill include testing the operations of control rooms and air raid warning systems. It will also assess the effectiveness of civil defence services, such as warden services, firefighting, rescue operations, depot management and the preparation of evacuation plans.
The Haryana government will conduct a major state-wide civil defence exercise named Operation Shield, on Thursday across all 22 districts from 5.00 pm to 9.00 pm to enhance the state’s emergency preparedness and response capabilities.
As part of Operation Abhyaas earlier, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had directed 244 districts across the nation to carry out the drill, which included blackout exercises, air raid sirens, evacuation protocols and public awareness sessions aimed at preparing civilians for emergencies resembling wartime situations.
The Haryana Government will conduct the exercise under the guidance of MHA to simulate critical incidents such as air raids, drone attacks, and other wartime scenarios in the light of current national security concerns, an official said.
Sumita Misra, Additional Chief Secretary, Haryana Home Department, said the exercise aims to test existing emergency mechanisms, improve coordination between the civil administration, defence forces, and local communities, and identify areas that need to be strengthened.
She said the drill will involve a large-scale mobilisation of Civil Defence Wardens, registered volunteers, and youth outfits like the National Cadet Corps (NCC), National Service Scheme (NSS), Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), and Bharat Scouts and Guides.
The drill will involve responding to aerial threats such as air raids and unmanned aerial vehicles, activation of air raid sirens, and testing of control room communication hotlines connected with the Indian Air Force, she said. In addition, a controlled blackout will be observed from 8 pm to 8.15 pm near vital installations, with essential emergency services such as hospitals, fire stations, and police stations excepted, she said. Misra said the exercise also aligns with the Incident Response System (IRS), which Haryana officially notified on January 28 under the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
She said she has directed all deputy commissioners, who are also chairpersons of district disaster management authorities, along with commissioners and superintendents of police, to ensure meticulous exercises in their jurisdictions.
They have been instructed to submit detailed reports to the Commandant General, Home Guards, and Director, Civil Defence, Haryana, which will be compiled and sent to the MHA.
District Collector of Barmer, Rajasthan Tina Dabi said mock drills will be conducted in the districts bordering Pakistan as per the orders of the central government.
During Operation Abhyaas, air raid warning sirens were activated while civilians and students were briefed on civil defence protocols on how to protect themselves and others around them in case of an attack. These mock drills — the first of their kind since the 1971 war with Pakistan— were held in 250 locations across 33 states and union territories.
In the wake of repeated air attacks from Pakistan — which were successfully thwarted — 32 airports across northern and northwestern India were shut down as a precautionary measure.
During Operation Sindoor, Punjab — which shares a 532-kilometre border with Pakistan — put all its border districts on high alert, cancelling any public events while closing schools in Ferozepur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran districts. Similarly, all government and private schools in the border areas of Rajasthan — which shares 1,037 kilometres with Pakistan — were shut down.
While the exercise—Operation Shield—was planned to be held on May 29 simultaneously in states bordering Pakistan. It was postponed due to administrative reasons in Gujarat, Punjab and Rajasthan.