Four Indian states bordering Pakistan are set to carry out large-scale civil defense mock drills starting Thursday, just weeks after a ceasefire was established following recent military tensions.
According to Indian media reports citing officials, these drills will take place in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), Punjab, and Gujarat on Thursday evening.
Additionally, the Haryana government has announced a state-wide emergency preparedness exercise called “Operation Shield,” which will be conducted across all 22 districts beginning at 5 p.m. local time. The exercise aims to bolster readiness for potential crises.
Organized under the supervision of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the drills will simulate various critical scenarios including air raids, drone strikes, and other wartime emergencies, reflecting ongoing national security concerns.
As part of the exercise, a controlled blackout lasting 15 minutes will be implemented from 8:00 to 8:15 p.m. near key installations, excluding essential emergency services such as hospitals, fire stations, and police stations.
Dr. Sumita Misra, Additional Chief Secretary of Haryana’s Home Department, explained that the exercise is designed to evaluate current emergency response systems, enhance coordination among civil administration, defense forces, and local communities, and identify gaps to ensure swift and effective crisis management.
Earlier, on May 7, a statewide mock drill was conducted shortly after India’s airstrikes in Pakistan, which targeted civilian areas including mosques and resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians.
