The Directorate of Civil Defence carried out a trial run of an air raid siren on Friday as a precautionary measure. The siren, placed on the roof of the multistorey Public Works Department (PWD) building at ITO, was tested between 3:00 pm and 3:20 pm, lasting around 15 to 20 minutes.
This siren test came at a time when tensions between India and Pakistan have significantly increased. The situation escalated after the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which killed 26 people, most of whom were tourists. Following this, there have been incidents of cross-border shelling and missile strikes.
Officials assured the public that the siren test was just an exercise and urged everyone to stay calm and avoid unnecessary panic.
Delhi Plans to Install Sirens Across the City
PWD Minister Parvesh Verma announced a major safety plan for Delhi. He said that air raid sirens would soon be installed on all high-rise buildings across the city. These sirens have a range of up to 8 kilometers.
Verma explained, "The work of installing sirens in Delhi has started. Sirens will be installed on all the high-rise buildings in Delhi. Its range is 8 kilometres. Starting tonight, 40-50 more sirens will be installed in high-rise buildings in Delhi. We will run it in case of any emergency. We can run it from a single command centre..."
Security Measures Tightened in the Capital
Due to the worsening India-Pakistan situation, the security in Delhi was significantly increased on Friday. The move came after Pakistani forces launched missile and drone strikes in multiple border areas on the night of May 8.
Key places like government offices, courts, foreign embassies, sewage and water treatment plants are now being guarded more closely. According to a senior police officer, paramilitary forces have also been deployed to strengthen the security setup. Authorities are also keeping a strict watch on crowded public areas such as markets, malls, railway stations, parks, and Metro stations.
Today, Directorate of Civil Defence will be testing Air Raid Sirens installed at PWD
— Delhi Government (@DelhiGovDigital) May 9, 2025
HQ, ITO.
The testing will commence at 3.00 PM and be carried out for a period of
15-20 minutes.
It’s just an exercise, you need not to panic, kindly cooperate with the agencies. pic.twitter.com/98dgIMeEah
In response to the growing threat, Delhi Police cancelled all staff leaves on Thursday night. A senior officer stated, "Night vigil has been intensified. We will deploy extra force in every sensitive area."
Police Leadership in Constant Communication
According to sources, special commissioners in every zone are holding meetings with their respective deputy commissioners to evaluate and ensure strong security preparedness. A police source confirmed, "All the DCPS are keeping a close watch on law and order in their jurisdiction. Delhi Police is prepared to tackle any situation."