May 7 Mock Drills Amid India-Pakistan Tensions to Include Sirens, Blackouts

Pahalgam news: The ministry of home is stepping up its preparedness by conducting mock drills in states categorised as district in the country starting on May 7th and testing everything from warning sirens for air raids as well as evacuation readiness blackout measures, as tensions between Pakistan continue to simmer amid the context that of Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people were killed.

The Home Minister of the Union on May 5 In an email for Chief Secretaries stating that the program is designed to evaluate and increase the capacity to deploy Civil Defence mechanisms across states and Union Territories (UTs).

"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 announcement issued by the Directorate General Fire Service, Civil Defence and Home Guards stated.

"Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to organise Civil Defence Exercise and Rehearsal across 244 categorised Civil Defence Districts of the country on May 7, 2025," the note read.

What do mock drills intend to accomplish?

1. Operationalization alert sirens to warn of an air attack

2. The operation of the hotline, radio communication links with IAF

3. Training of students, civilians, etc, on civil defence aspects to safeguard themselves from an hostile attack.

4. Blackout measures for crash victims

5. Early camouflage of crucial installations and plants

6. Update of the evacuation plan and its practice

7. Monitoring the response and activation to the activation and response Civil Defence Services, including firefighters, wardens, rescue operations, as well as depot management

Tensions between India and Pakistan have increased due to a terror attack that occurred in the Baisaran Valley of Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).

The decision to hold mock drills in classified districts in India was issued after the Prime Vice-President Narendra Modi convened high-level discussions for discussion of retaliation in the wake of Pahalgam terror attack.