India today executed one of its largest-ever civil defence mock drills, spanning 244 cities and involving thousands of participants, from schoolchildren to emergency personnel.
The Ministry of Home Affairs ordered the countrywide exercise to audit India’s readiness against escalating regional threats, notably after recent military strikes under “Operation Sindoor” targeted terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. As air raid sirens rang out across metro cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru, and in strategic towns including Bareilly, Dehradun, and Gangtok, citizens experienced wartime simulations for the first time in decades. These drills, scheduled at various times throughout the day—with a synchronised 4 PM siren in most cities—mimicked scenarios such as air raids, mass evacuations, power blackouts, and emergency response coordination.
In Delhi, over 55 sites—including residential colonies, hospitals, schools, and metro stations—were identified for drills. Sixty air raid sirens pierced the capital’s soundscape, prompting people to seek cover, limit phone use, and switch off all electrical lights. Schools were a key focus, with nearly 660 institutions participating in structured emergency education earlier in the day. Students were instructed to take cover under desks, cut off power, and execute mock evacuations under supervision. This civil defence audit came in the wake of India’s retaliatory strike on April 22 in Pahalgam, Kashmir, where 26 terrorists were killed. Operation Sindoor, a surprise offensive by Indian armed forces on terror sites across the Line of Control, marked a significant escalation in Indo-Pak tensions. Given the strategic and symbolic nature of the operation, the government’s call for a mass-scale safety rehearsal underlines concerns around hybrid warfare, urban vulnerability, and public resilience.
Authorities emphasised that while drills were rigorous, they would not disrupt essential services. Banks remained open, as did public transport. Healthcare, aviation, and power utilities were instructed to run operations normally while also engaging in internal safety checks. In Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly and Uttarakhand’s Dehradun, blackouts were implemented for 10-minute intervals. In the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Sikkim, island geography added a layer of complexity, testing communication and logistics in remote terrains. Meanwhile, Hyderabad’s drills tested city-wide coordination using the Outer Ring Road as the simulation boundary.
The wider goal of these simulations, according to internal documents, was to test early warning systems, radio coordination with the Indian Air Force, crash blackouts, emergency evacuations, and vital infrastructure camouflage. In Varanasi, for instance, the National Disaster Response Force staged an elaborate demonstration involving fire rescue, first aid, and public education in the Reserve Police Lines. While the exercise was framed as routine preparedness, many observers see it as a strategic signal to both domestic audiences and neighbouring states. At its heart, the initiative reflects India’s intent to build urban resilience, instil a culture of readiness, and elevate civilian awareness at a time of heightened security sensitivities.
But the drill also holds broader implications. As climate-induced crises and geopolitical instability become increasingly entwined, India’s urban hubs—many of which are densely populated and infrastructure-stressed—must prepare not only for warlike scenarios but also for natural disasters, cyber threats, and compound emergencies. Ultimately, these drills stand as a crucial pivot in India’s evolving civil defence strategy: fostering decentralised preparedness, accountability among citizens, and tighter integration between military command and civilian institutions. Whether this will translate into long-term urban resilience remains to be seen—but today’s exercise made it clear that readiness is no longer optional in a world of unpredictable risks.
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