Amid the political tensions between India and Pakistan, a mock drill will be conducted across the different states of India, according to the government of India. It is to be noted that five states, including Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Chandigarh and Jammu and Kashmir, will be conducting a drill on May 29, Thursday.
However, according to certain reports, the drill will be conducted on June 3, Tuesday. The government of Punjab has announced that this exercise will be conducted across all the districts of Punjab, whether it is borderning or non-bordering.
It is to be noted that these drills will be conducted under Operation Shield, an exercise conducted to test the operationality of the control rooms and the air raid warning systems. Along with this, the authorities have mentioned that these drills will also focus on security systems like warden services, firefighting, rescue operations, depot management, and the preparation of evacuation plans.
State-wise details linked to the mock drills -
Chandigarh -
The Chandigarh administration has advised that a mock drill will be conducted by the authorities and during that air sirens will be sounded at around 5 pm, marking the starting of the drill. Along with this, complete blackouts will be practiced between 8 pm to 8:15 pm across the strategic locations, expecting the locations for essential services.
Haryana -
Chief Minister of Haryana Nayak Singh Saini has announced that while conducting the mock drill, blackouts will be practiced between 8:00 pm to 8:15 pm in different regions of the state. He further mentioned that such drills have not been conducted across the state since 1971.
Following this, the objective behind such drills was explained, which highlighted the efforts of the government to increase the awareness among people.
Gujarat -
According to the administration of Gujrat, the mock drills will be conducted in all districts of the state and the government has also created a government portal for the registration of the individuals to get administered in civil defence.
Along with this, the government will also perform blackouts at 2-3 spots in every district and the government has appealed to the general public to join it.
Why a mock drill now?
This follows weeks after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had performed Operation Abhyas, a nationwide drill, on May 7, hours before India conducted Operation Sindoor.
During the previous mock drill, air raid warning sirens were sounded and civilians and students were informed about civil defence procedures on self-protection and protection of people around them in the event of an attack. These mock exercises - the first since the 1971 war with Pakistan - were conducted in 250 centres spread over 33 states and union territories.
Following continuous air strikes by Pakistan, foiled successfully, 32 airports in northern and northwestern India were closed as a precaution.
Punjab, which has a 532-kilometre border with Pakistan, placed all its border districts on red alert during Operation Sindoor, cancelling any public gatherings while directing the closure of schools in Ferozepur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran districts.
Likewise, all state and private schools in the Rajasthan-Pakistan border areas, Rajasthan shares 1,037 kilometers with Pakistan, were closed.