India Conducts Nationwide Civil Defence Drills Amid Indo-Pak Tensions After Pahalgam Terror Attack
In a historic move, India launched nationwide civil defence drills across 244 districts, including 100 marked as “highly sensitive” such as Delhi, Mumbai, and nuclear zones, to strengthen public safety and response capabilities in the face of potential military or terror attacks.
This is the first nationwide civil defence exercise since the 1971 India-Pakistan war, signaling the seriousness of the current security environment.
Why Now? Rising Indo-Pak Tension
These drills come in the aftermath of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, where 26 civilians were killed. India has blamed the Pakistan “deep state” for the attack, prompting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to give the armed forces “complete operational freedom” to respond.
This has led to speculation of a possible retaliatory strike, increasing fears that Pakistan may target Indian cities in return. The Union Home Ministry has instructed all states and Union Territories to conduct civil defence preparedness exercises urgently.
What the Civil Defence Drills Include:
- Air raid siren testing in areas like Lucknow, Delhi, and Jammu
- Fire drills and emergency evacuations in Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and Punjab
- Blackout simulations to prepare for potential aerial attacks
- Camouflaging of strategic infrastructure like power plants and factories
- School safety training, including shelter-under-desk drills
- Training of civilians in first aid, evacuation, and emergency protocols
- Crowd control exercises to prevent stampedes during an emergency
Highlights From States:
- Jammu: School children participated in air raid drills, guided by NDRF and local authorities.
- Uttar Pradesh: Fire drills conducted in key cities, with officials practicing emergency evacuations.
- Delhi: Delhi Police briefed on safety at high footfall zones like Connaught Place.
- Punjab: 20 districts held simulations with civil defence teams and local police.
- Odisha: Drills being carried out at 12 locations including Puri, ahead of the Rath Yatra.
- Manipur: Introduced firefighting motorbikes in Imphal for narrow-lane emergencies.
- Gujarat & Karnataka: Air raid drills conducted in 15 and 3 districts respectively.
India’s High-Risk Civil Defence Districts
India has classified civil defence areas into three categories:
- Category 1 (High-Risk): Includes Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and nuclear reactor districts like Kalpakkam (TN), Surat (Gujarat), and Tarapur (Maharashtra).
- Category 2 & 3: Include other strategically important or border-sensitive districts.
Border Districts on High Alert
In Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer, SP Sudhir Choudhary warned against espionage threats:
“If someone leaks defence info for money or under blackmail, they will face strict legal action… All agencies are on high alert.”
Security has been stepped up in Punjab, Rajasthan, and border areas where terrorist infiltration remains a concern.
Conclusion:
India’s coordinated civil defence efforts reflect a heightened state of readiness amid growing cross-border threats. These large-scale drills aim to protect civilians, infrastructure, and national interests, reinforcing India’s preparedness against air raids, terror attacks, or military escalations.
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