India carried out full-scale civil defence mock drills across the country on Wednesday. These drills included blackout exercises, where several cities turned off their lights for a short period. The government launched these activities to test how ready the nation is to handle emergencies, especially during possible conflicts.
Cities Experience Temporary Blackouts
Well-known places in Delhi such as Connaught Place, India Gate, and Akshardham Temple went dark for a while. Other cities like Mumbai, Patna in Bihar, and Surat in Gujarat also participated in the blackout.
These drills followed a directive from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The ministry had asked all states and union territories to hold these exercises to check their readiness against “new and complex threats.”
Simulating Wartime Conditions
The drills involved several wartime-like activities. These included blackout tests, air raid sirens, evacuation drills, and public awareness sessions. The goal was to prepare citizens and local authorities for emergency situations.
The exercises were linked to a military operation named Operation Sindoor, in which the Indian Armed Forces reportedly struck nine terrorist camps located in Pakistan.
Widespread Participation Across Cities
Authorities conducted drills in several major Indian cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Gwalior, Patna, and Jaipur. The aim was to examine how well each city's local systems could respond during a security crisis.
Blackouts in Bihar and Gujarat
In Bihar’s capital Patna, areas such as the Raj Bhavan and the chief minister’s residence participated in the blackout. This action was part of the mock drill initiated by the central government.
Similarly, Surat in Gujarat experienced a “wartime crash blackout” as instructed by the MHA. The drill helped evaluate how quickly the city could react in case of sudden emergencies.
Gwalior, located in Madhya Pradesh, held its mock drill in the Sirol area. The local administration tested how well the district could respond to possible threats.
Drills in Delhi and Maharashtra
In the national capital, a full mock drill took place at the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) Office in Connaught Place. Emergency procedures were also practiced in the popular Khan Market area. Other places such as Akshardham and Moti Nagar saw brief blackouts as part of the simulation.
Mumbai tested emergency steps at Cross Maidan. In Pune, authorities held a large-scale Civil Defence Drill at Council Hall.
Other States Join the Preparedness Exercise
Himachal Pradesh activated sirens in Shimla. This was a signal for residents to practice blacking out their homes and businesses.
In Karnataka’s Bengaluru, the mock drill happened at Halsuru Lake. Jaipur, Rajasthan also took part, with authorities carrying out exercises on the busy MI Road.
Indian Military Hits Terror Camps
While these drills took place, India’s military launched strikes on Wednesday under Operation Sindoor, targeting nine major terrorist bases in Pakistan.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, while speaking to the media, said Indian intelligence had been watching the movement of terrorists for some time. He warned, “Indian intelligence agencies have been monitoring terrorist activities and raised concerns regarding more terrorist attacks in India.”