Security Drill in India Live Updates: Civil defence drills simulating multiple hostile scenarios conducted across country

Congress leader Tikaram Jully on Wednesday, stated that the nation is adequately prepared for any eventuality, highlighting that mock drills are currently being conducted.

He further said that the people of the nation are united in any case and stand as a force.

"Mock drills are being carried out... Any kind of situation can develop. People are united in any case and stand with the country and the forces... The way terrorists killed our people on our land, and widowed several women, every Indian felt an indescribable pain. Our leader, Rahul Gandhi, has clearly said that we will support the government," he said.

Shortly after lights went out in Amritsar as part of a nationwide civil defence mock drill, the district administration again carried out a blackout rehearsal in the early hours of Thursday, urging residents to remain indoors and not panic. The drill began around 1.30 am.

"Taking utmost caution, the Amritsar district administration has again started the blackout drill," said a message shared by the Amritsar District Public Relations Officer.

"Please stay at home, do not panic, do not gather outside your homes and keep the outside lights of your houses switched off," it said.

The drill was earlier carried out in Amritsar from 10:30 pm to 11 pm.

The nationwide mock drills took place hours after the Indian military targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) as part of 'Operation Sindoor' launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack.

Mock drills were organised at different locations here to test the preparedness of the response system to deal with an emergency situation like air strikes and keep people safe. The drills were also meant to create awareness among people about how to keep themselves safe during an emergency, an official here said.
"It is a drill to test our preparedness to ensure public safety and not to cause panic," Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan said.

Dhara Police Chowki, Blind School Rajpur Road, Lakhkhibagh Police Station, Collectorate Dehradun, Inter State Bus Terminal and Araghar Police Chowki were among the locations where the drills were conducted.

Secretary Home Shailesh Bagauli, Director General of Police Deepam Seth and Secretary Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Vinod Kumar Suman monitored the drill from the State Emergency Operations Centre here.

Dehradun District Magistrate Savin Bansal and his entire team remained virtually connected to the State Emergency Operations Centre to give their superiors information about the drills.

India carried out a nationwide civil defence exercise, "Operation Abhyaas," on Wednesday, featuring drills simulating air raids, fire emergencies, rescue operations, and other emergency scenarios across multiple states and Union Territories.

The Ministry of Home Affairs had earlier announced these security exercises on Monday, which were implemented across numerous states and UTs, including Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Assam, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur.

A comprehensive mock drill was conducted in Rajmahal Square in Bhubaneswar to test emergency preparedness. Civil defence volunteers, NSS, NCC, and all voluntary organisations participated in the mock drill.

Similar emergency response drills are underway in several metropolitan areas, including Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Gwalior, and Jaipur, to assess local readiness for security challenges.

The exercises follow directives issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Monday to all states and union territories, instructing them to conduct drills for evaluating their readiness against emerging complex security threats.

The Indian Armed Forces initiated Operation Sindoor early Wednesday, striking terrorist facilities in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). This action was taken in response to the April 22 terrorist incident in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 civilians, including one Nepali national, lost their lives.

Ranchi DC Manjunath Bhajantri said, “Civil defence mock drill has been successfully concluded. Fire brigade team, NDRF, NCC cadets, and Police administrations carried out a rescue operation.”

As part of a nationwide mock drill, the NDMC area of Delhi will observe a scheduled blackout from 8:00 pm to 8:15 pm on Tuesday. The drill aims to test emergency preparedness and coordination among various agencies in the event of a crisis.

Authorities have advised residents and establishments within the New Delhi Municipal Council zone to cooperate and avoid panic during the temporary power outage. Essential services will continue to function with backup systems in place.

The mock exercise is being conducted across various parts of the country to assess readiness for potential emergency scenarios.

A civil defence mock drill was carried 18 places across 14 'civil defence districts' of Assam on Wednesday as a preparedness for any air attack following the Pahalgam terror strike, a senior official said. The drill began at 4 pm and completed within half an hour, Home Guard and Civil Defence Inspector General of Police Arabinda Kalita told PTI.

"The entire exercise was completed successfully, and we could test all our capabilities in case of any air attack by enemy forces. Different time-bound parameters were monitored and recorded for future reference," he said.

The mock drill was conducted at 18 spots in 14 'civil defence districts' of the state, Kalita said.

The 'civil defence districts' are different from the normal administrative district. A geographical area having a cantonment or a refinery or a nuclear plant may be designated as a 'civil defence district' depending on the requirement and exigency.

The Assam Police's Home Guard and Civil Defence wing led the drill in association with various other agencies like fire services, health department, disaster management, BSNL and DIPR, among others.

Sirens sounded across six locations in Jharkhand on Wednesday, signalling the commencement of mock drills that coincided with India's military operations against terror facilities in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), according to officials.

The exercises, lasting three hours, took place across five districts - Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Bokaro, Godda, and Sahibganj - with support from civil defence organisations.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) instructed states to organise these drills in response to emerging sophisticated security challenges, particularly following the Pahalgam terror incident that resulted in 26 civilian casualties.

These activities formed part of the national civil defence exercise 'Operation Abhyaas', which included simulations of various emergency situations such as aerial attacks, fire incidents, and rescue missions.

The drill in Ranchi's Doranda area proceeded despite light rainfall and was planned to conclude at 7 PM.

A civil defence team from Central Railway executed a mock drill at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Mumbai, a bustling station that witnessed the 26/11 terrorist attack, to evaluate security forces' emergency preparedness.

The exercise showcased fire safety protocols, fire-fighting methods, air strike response procedures, and casualty rescue and revival techniques. Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel conducted individual and collaborative security exercises.

Mumbai Police confirmed that GRP and RPF teams performed route marches, patrolling activities, and inspections across various railway stations.

The exercise, commencing at 3 pm at CSMT, continued for over an hour under Central Railway's civil defence team supervision. Officials reported that civil defence volunteers, wearing yellow T-shirts, enacted various scenarios to test coordination, response timing, and overall preparedness.

Approximately 20 volunteers from the civil defence team demonstrated safety protocols, fire-fighting techniques, air strike response procedures, and methods for rescuing and reviving injured people.

The exercise, conducted in the area between CSMT's suburban and main line corridors, drew significant attention from passersby.

Emergency preparedness drills were conducted across 55 locations in the national capital, featuring evacuation procedures, emergency response simulations and rescue operations carried out by authorities in the national capital.

Under the nationwide mega civil defence mock drill 'Operation Abhyaas', mock drills simulating multiple hostile scenarios like air raids, multiple fire emergencies, and search and rescue operations among others were carried out.

Security personnel, civil defence volunteers, emergency vehicles and fire engines were positioned strategically across various locations.
At Khan Market, evacuation procedures commenced with warning sirens, directing people to move towards designated safe zones.
Civil defence volunteers, personnel and NCC cadets supervised a mock emergency exercise in Chandni Chowk.

Near Town Hall in Chandni Chowk, warning sirens initiated an evacuation exercise, with people moving swiftly towards secure areas.
Following a subsequent siren, rescue operations began. Volunteers attended to casualties whilst maintaining public order and encouraging assistance for the injured.

Fire Services deployed cranes for high-rise evacuations. At Indira Gandhi International Airport, emergency protocols were activated with sirens, followed by fire brigade, medical teams and ambulance response.

NDMC building occupants evacuated to the basement following alarm activation.

The RBI building exercise included specific safety directives, instructing personnel to avoid glass windows and adopt protective positions with hands covering heads.

These exercises coincided with the Indian armed forces' missile operations targeting nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) earlier Wednesday.

Haryana chief secretary Anurag Rastogi presided over a review meeting to discuss preparations for 'Operation Abhyas', a mock drill scheduled for 4:00 pm today across Haryana's 22 districts. The public has been asked to participate by turning off their household lights from 7:50 pm to 8:00 pm during this exercise.

At the meeting, Rastogi provided detailed instructions to Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police about implementing the mock drill. He specified that the exercise would begin at essential government facilities, public sector units, and other vital locations. Deputy Commissioners received instructions to mobilise their civil defence mechanisms for this coordinated initiative.

The exercise will incorporate various groups including Home Guards, Civil Defence volunteers, police personnel, NCC officers, and Aapada Mitras working together. The Chief Secretary emphasised that this drill focuses on readiness and preventive measures, not creating alarm.

He directed DCs to conduct press briefings to inform residents about the drill's preparatory nature and assure them of their safety.
Additionally, Rastogi directed the Deputy Commissioners to request public cooperation in notifying police and local authorities about any suspicious activities they observe in their localities.

A 10-minute blackout will be held in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly district from 8pm to 8.10pm on May 7 as part of an emergency preparedness drill, officials announced. The exercise, focusing on areas near the Indian Veterinary Research Institute, aims to improve civilian safety during potential airstrikes.

District magistrate urged citizens to to switch off all lights, including inverter-powered ones, stay indoors, avoid smoking, avoid using phones or torches, and cover any light leakage with black paper. Vehicles should stop and turn off lights during the drill. A two-minute siren will mark the start of the drill, with civil defence teams assisting and local wardens coordinating efforts.

As part of ‘Operation Abhyaas,’ over 55 schools across Delhi conducted emergency preparedness drills on Wednesday, following the Union Home Ministry’s directive after the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. The drills aimed to familiarise students with evacuation procedures, switching off electrical appliances, and taking cover during emergencies.

In Ranchi, the mock drill is scheduled to take place in the Doranda area. Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri urged the public to remain calm and cooperative during the simulation. “Common people have been requested not to panic when a siren blares during the mock drill. Citizens were urged to keep electricity off at homes during the exercise,” he said.

He further added, “This exercise is a preparation to protect you and your family in an emergency. Come, learn how to be prepared.”

According to officials, activities will include simulated blackouts, infrastructure protection efforts, siren alerts, and evacuation protocols for injured persons, all aimed at improving emergency readiness.

Jharkhand Police spokesperson and IG (Operations) Amol V Homkar confirmed the coordinated effort, noting that, “The exercise will be conducted at designated places identified by the district administrations. During the exercises, some emergency situations will be simulated and the preparedness of various agencies such as civil defence, police, fire services, medical teams and the public to handle such situations will be studied.” The main objective of the drills is to enhance coordination among key emergency response agencies, reduce response time in crises, and raise public awareness about disaster management protocols.

Preparations have been made for security drills at six locations across Jharkhand on Wednesday, in response to the Ministry of Home Affairs’ directive to several states. This comes amid heightened tensions following India’s strike on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The drills will take place from 4 pm to 7 pm in five districts — Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Bokaro, Godda, and Sahibganj — and are being conducted in association with civil defence organisations. The Ministry cited “new and complex threats” as the reason behind this nationwide preparedness initiative, following the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam.

Following the siren, select locations in MMR will experience 5-minute power blackouts. The drill is designed to simulate a hostile attack and assess how well civil defence forces can minimize casualties and damage during such emergencies.

On Wednesday at 4 pm, air raid sirens will go off in around 60 areas across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) as part of nationwide mock security drills. The drill aims to assess the region's preparedness for war-like confrontations amid heightened tensions with Pakistan.

Control rooms and shadow control rooms will be tested for operational readiness during the mock drill. These tests are integral to ensuring that the coordination among emergency services is seamless during a real-life crisis.

The civil defence drill will see active participation from civil defence wardens, home guards, NCC and NSS cadets, NYKS volunteers, and students from schools and colleges. The drill will extend to village-level participation.

E. Raghavendra Rao, a Nagpur resident, pioneered civil defence in India during World War II after being appointed its chief in 1941. Tasked with introducing this concept, Rao defined civil defence through All India Radio, emphasizing preparations for air raids, rescue operations, and public assistance.

A crucial component of the civil defence drill will be testing communication lines with the Indian Air Force via hotline and radio systems. This is aimed at ensuring the coordination of emergency responses during potential attacks.

The mock drill will involve operationalising air-raid warning sirens, cleaning and restoring bunkers, and training civilians on protective measures against hostile attacks. Other tasks include blackout protocols, camouflaging vital installations, and updating evacuation plans.

New Delhi is gearing up for air raid drills, emphasizing citizen preparedness. Residents should familiarize themselves with siren sounds, locate shelters, and prepare emergency kits. Training sessions will educate on first-aid and safe spaces. Blackout measures include window coverings and switching off outdoor lights. Evacuation plans involve identifying routes and preparing 'go-bags'.

Amidst heightened tensions with Pakistan, Mumbai and other districts in Maharashtra will conduct a state-wide mock security drill today. Air raid sirens will sound across 60 areas in MMR at 4 pm, followed by brief power outages. The exercise aims to assess preparedness for war-like situations, involving civil defence volunteers, police, and paramedics.

A nationwide mock drill is set to take place today at 4pm in various cities across India. The exercise is intended to test the country's disaster response capabilities and prepare local authorities for emergency situations. Here's all you need to know

Citizens have been asked to rehearse evacuation routes and keep a ‘go-bag’ ready with ID cards, emergency contacts, medicines, snacks, and water. During the drill, people must follow designated paths calmly and avoid using personal vehicles unless instructed, to prevent congestion.