MHA Directs Civil Defence Mock Drills At 259 Sites Nationwide On May 7; Know Where Exercises Will Be Held In Maharashtra

Mumbai: A nationwide civil defence mock drill will occur across 259 locations in India, including major cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad, with over 100 identified as highly sensitive. This exercise aims to address new and complex threats in light of rising tensions with Pakistan following a recent terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir that claimed 26 lives.

During the drill, air-raid sirens will be activated, and cities will simulate blackouts to prevent detection by enemy aircraft. The exercises will also involve civilian training on self-protection during hostile attacks, facility clean-up for shelters, and testing communication links with the Indian Air Force.

Moreover, critical infrastructure like power plants and military installations will undergo camouflage drills to enhance visibility protection from aerial threats. Control and shadow control rooms will be assessed for communication efficiency, and evacuation plans will be practiced, moving individuals from high-risk areas to safer zones.

Officials recommend that households maintain emergency supplies, including medical kits, torches, and cash, to prepare for any electronic failures. Prior to this nationwide drill, Ferozepur Cantonment in Punjab held a blackout exercise, testing readiness for immediate blackout measures amid increased security concerns.

The state electricity board temporarily cut off power for 30 minutes while honking sirens marked a civil defense drill. On Monday, the Centre instructed northern and western states and Union Territories to enhance their civil defense capabilities in light of potential wartime threats. This comes in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack and escalating tensions with Pakistan.

Key cities in Maharashtra: Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, and Aurangabad—are set to participate in mock drills on Wednesday to evaluate the nation's readiness for hostile attacks. Nationwide, these drills will occur at 259 locations, focusing on emergency responses to air raids and cross-border assaults.

Mock Drills In Maharashtra

Maharashtra will conduct drills in three designated areas according to their strategic significance. Category 1 or Highly Sensitive Areas include Mumbai, India’s financial hub, Uran, home to the JNPT port, and Tarapur, where a nuclear facility is situated.

Category 2 includes prominent cities such as Pune, Nashik, Thane, Roha-Nagothane, Manmad, Sinnar, Thal Vaishet, and Pimpiri-Chinchwad.

Category 3 encompasses Aurangabad, Bhusawal, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg.

These practice exercises are included in a nationwide initiative that encompasses 13 critical areas under Category 1, 201 under Category 2, and 45 under Category 3.

Alongside Maharashtra, states bordering Pakistan and China, like Rajasthan and Punjab, have also been mandated to conduct similar preparedness initiatives, marking a significant civil defense mobilization.