India to conduct mock drills along Pakistan's border
An Indian Border Security Force (BSF) soldier patrols near the fenced border with Pakistan. PHOTO: REUTERS / FILE
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Four Indian states along the Pakistan border are set to conduct large-scale civil defence mock drills from Thursday (today) just weeks after a ceasefire was brokered following military escalation.
According to Indian media quoting authorities, mock drills will be conducted in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), Punjab and Gujarat on Thursday evening.
The Haryana government has also announced a state-wide emergency preparedness exercise titled "Operation Shield," scheduled today across all 22 districts from 5pm (local time) onwards, aimed at enhancing readiness in the event of a crisis.
The drill, being organised under the guidance of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), will simulate critical incidents such as air raids, drone attacks, and other wartime scenarios in the wake of national security concerns, as per the Indian media.
Additionally, a controlled blackout of 15 minutes will be observed from 8pm to 8.15pm near vital installations, with the exception of essential emergency services such as hospitals, fire stations, and police stations.
Home Department Haryana Additional Chief Secretary Dr Sumita Misra said, "The exercise aims to test existing emergency mechanisms, improve coordination between the civil administration, defence forces, and local communities, and identify areas that need to be strengthened, thus ensuring swift and effective response during any crisis."
Earlier, a statewide mock drill was conducted on May 7 shortly after India launched airstrikes in Pakistan, which hit civilian populations including mosques, claiming lives of 26 civilians.
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