As part of a massive civil defence preparedness exercise, the Union Home Ministry has today carried out country-wide mock drill at the state and Union Territory level to put India’s emergency response mechanisms in case of air attacks and other belligerent situations. The move comes following the April 22 terror strike at Pahalgam killing 26 civilians.
Drills involve the activation of sirens, blackout drills, evacuation procedure, air raid drills, fire response simulation, and command and communication system functionality.
Key Aims of the Drill
- Testing air raid warning systems
- Simulating blackouts and crash measures
- Evaluating evacuation plans and disaster control rooms
- Testing firefighting, warden, and first responder capabilities
- Activating hotlines with IAF and cleaning bunkers and trenches
LIVE State-Wise Updates
Delhi
- Time: 4 PM
- Locations: 55, including Connaught Place, Khan Market, Chandni Chowk.
- Involved: Schools, police, fire departments.
- Activity: Multiple hostile scenario simulations including air raids, fire emergencies. Sirens to sound in 15 police districts.
Kerala
- Districts: All 14
- Timing: 4:00 PM to 4:29 PM
- Siren Pattern: 3 short bursts at 4 PM, “Safe” siren at 4:28 PM.
- Note: Public announcements at places of worship where sirens are absent.
Telangana (Hyderabad)
- Time: 4 PM to 4:30 PM
- Operation: City-wide sirens such as from police, industries, fire engines.
- Public Instructions: Remain indoors, switch off gas/electrical appliances, follow official sources.
Tamil Nadu
- Places: Madras Atomic Power Station (Kalpakkam), Chennai Port Trust
- Activity: Simulated air raids on important installations.
Karnataka
- Major Areas: Bengaluru, Karwar, Raichur, Mysuru, Mandya
- First Drill: Civil Defence HQ, Ulsoor, Bengaluru
- Status: 3 out of 35 sirens faulty. Range: 3 km radius.
Maharashtra
- Places: 16 spread over 10 districts including Mumbai, Pune, Thane.
- Participants: More than 10,000 including NCC, civil defence, Home Guards.
- Time: 4 PM
Haryana
- Preparedness: Multi-level drills in 11 civil defence districts.
- Key Districts: Gurugram, Faridabad, Rohtak, Hisar, Ambala, Panipat, Sonipat, etc.
Uttar Pradesh
- Coverage: All districts
- Special Event: District-wide blackout in Bareilly from 8:00 PM to 8:10 PM
- Objective: Comprehensive emergency response check beyond the identified 19 sensitive districts.
Rajasthan
- Cities Covered: 28
- Sensitivity Categories:
- Most Sensitive: Kota, Rawatbhata
- Second Tier: Jaipur
- Others: Eight identified as least sensitive
Gujarat
- Districts: 18 covering Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Jamnagar, Kutch
- Drill Time: 4 PM (mock drill), 7:30 PM – 8 PM (blackout)
- Blackout: All citizens to turn off lights for 30 minutes
Assam
- Districts: 14 civil defence-designated
- Time: 4 PM onwards
- Coverage: All standard protocol steps to be adhered to
Andhra Pradesh
- Locations: Kotha Jalaripeta, Oxygen Towers (Visakhapatnam)
- Time:
- Drill at 4 PM (Kotha Jalaripeta)
- Blackout at 7 PM (both locations)
West Bengal
- Coverage: Statewide, particularly Kolkata and district towns
- Duration: 7-day plan starting today
- Note: No public participation; security personnel only.
Tripura
- Districts: All 8
- Participants: TSR, NCC, Apada Mitra, Civil Defence volunteers
- Time: Sirens at 4 PM and 5 PM
Chandigarh
- Activity: Blackout drill between 7:30 PM and 7:40 PM
- Request: Residents requested to turn off all electrical appliances
Andaman & Nicobar Islands
- Main Location: Jawaharlal Nehru Rajkeeya Mahavidyalaya, Port Blair (unconfirmed)
- Time: 4 PM
- Preparedness: Complete preparedness as per MHA instructions
Public Advisory
- These drills are routine and pre-planned.
- Do not panic upon hearing sirens or announcements.
- Follow instructions from police or local officials.
- Avoid spreading unverified news or social media rumours.
Conclusion
With heightened tensions and the recent terror attack in Kashmir, Operation Abhyaas is an important initiative by the Indian government to test the readiness of its emergency response services, state authorities, and the public. The operation reflects the country’s preparedness to meet wartime or terror attacks across urban and rural areas.
Get more LIVE updates as the drill continues across states.
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