Starting Thursday, civil defence mock drills will recommence in four Indian states bordering Pakistan—Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Jammu and Kashmir. These exercises aim to bolster emergency readiness and public safety in regions sensitive to cross-border threats.
In addition, Haryana plans a comprehensive statewide civil defence exercise named “Operation Shield” on May 29. Scheduled to begin at 5 pm across all 22 districts, this drill seeks to strengthen the state’s preparedness and coordination in emergency situations.
These drills follow closely on the heels of Operation Sindoor, launched recently against Pakistan, and come just weeks after the two nations agreed to a bilateral ceasefire on military actions and firing.
The government had earlier mandated nationwide civil defence exercises under Operation Abhyaas, following the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 civilian lives. The Ministry of Home Affairs directed 244 districts to participate in drills that included blackout procedures, air raid sirens, evacuation protocols, and awareness campaigns to prepare civilians for emergency scenarios resembling wartime conditions.
Haryana’s upcoming drills aim to evaluate emergency response systems and enhance coordination between civil authorities, defence personnel, and local communities.
During a rally held on May 27 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted that “India had recorded their strikes on nine terrorist hideouts during Operation Sindoor to provide proof of their actions.” He further stated, “It was no longer a proxy war by Pakistan as terrorists had been given state funerals, indicating that terrorism was a deliberate part of the country’s military strategy.”
