Operation Shield security drills today in states bordering Pakistan
Security forces will conduct the second phase of the nationwide civil defence security drill, Operation Shield, on Saturday, May 31, across several border states and Union Territories. The exercise aims to enhance emergency preparedness in vulnerable regions adjoining the western border, including Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat, Punjab and Rajasthan.This phase follows the first drill conducted on May 7, just hours before the Indian Armed Forces launched 'Operation Sindoor' in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs is overseeing the drill, which includes blackout protocols, evacuation simulations, and coordinated emergency response checks.advertisementAccording to a government press release issued on Thursday, the drill will begin at 5:00 PM and will be carried out across multiple areas. In Jammu, a blackout drill is scheduled between 8:00 PM and 8:15 PM. Residents have been asked to switch off all lights and cover windows to prevent light emission once the siren sounds. The local administration said that this is a security exercise and urged citizens not to panic.
In Chandigarh, a 10-minute blackout will take place in the Kishangarh and I.T. Park areas from 8:00 PM to 8:10 PM. A full-scale simulation involving a drone attack on a military base and evacuation of 20 individuals will be conducted at Sector 47. The operation will also test medical preparedness with the arrangement of 30 blood units and deployment of emergency teams.advertisementAhmedabad will see a series of activities starting at 5:00 PM in Shahibaug Cantonment and Viramgam police lines. These include volunteer mobilisation, air raid simulations, activation of communication systems, and evacuation drills, culminating in a blackout at 7:45 PM.Amritsar will conduct its security drill between 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM, followed by a blackout from 8:00 PM to 8:30 PM. The district administration has requested residents to remain indoors with lights off during the exercise.Notably, the security drill was initially planned for Thursday, but it was postponed in Haryana, Rajasthan and Chandigarh due to administrative reasons.Earlier, guidelines from the Directorate General of Fire Services and Home Guards instructed all border districts to conduct coordinated drills involving air raid sirens, blackout measures and mock evacuations.Operation Shield is a national initiative to plug the gaps identified during the first round of civil defence exercises. Following intelligence inputs and recent hostilities along the western border, the government invoked emergency powers and activated funding from the State Disaster Response Force to strengthen civil preparedness.The second phase focuses on testing inter-agency coordination, public responsiveness, and readiness of emergency services in case of air raids, drone strikes, and missile attacks. Volunteers from National Cadet Corps (NCC), National Service Scheme (NSS), NGOs, Home Guards and Border Wing units will be involved across various states.
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