Centre Directs States to Conduct Mock Drills Amid Heightened Security Concerns

 Centre Directs States to Conduct Mock Drills Amid Heightened Security Concerns

New Delhi, May 5: In the wake of escalating tensions with Pakistan following the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has instructed several states and Union Territories to conduct comprehensive mock drills on May 7 to assess preparedness for any potential hostile threats.

According to senior government sources, the nationwide preparedness exercise aims to bolster civil defence mechanisms and ensure a coordinated response in the event of an external attack or emergency. Among the key components of the drill will be the operationalisation of air raid warning sirens, community training on civil defence protocols, and execution of crash blackout measures to reduce visibility from aerial threats.

Authorities have also been asked to undertake early-stage camouflage of critical infrastructure, including power plants and communication hubs, to minimize exposure to reconnaissance and possible strikes. Furthermore, state administrations have been directed to update evacuation plans for vulnerable zones and carry out full-scale rehearsals to familiarise local populations and first responders with emergency procedures.

This initiative comes against the backdrop of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 civilians, most of them tourists, sparking widespread condemnation and nationwide outrage. The attack, which Indian security agencies have attributed to cross-border terror networks, has significantly strained Indo-Pak relations.

In response, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has held a string of high-level security meetings with top defence and intelligence officials to evaluate India’s strategic options. In a strong statement, he vowed that those responsible for the attack would face retribution "beyond their imagination" and pledged to pursue the perpetrators and their collaborators "to the ends of the earth."

The mock drills, officials say, are not only a measure of tactical readiness but also a message of resilience and preparedness, ensuring that both the civilian population and critical infrastructure remain safeguarded in a climate of uncertainty.