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Indian Express
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Operation Shield: From J&K to Gujarat, air raid to drone attack simulations, mock rescue ops held weeks after India-Pak ‘ceasefire'
More than two weeks after New Delhi and Islamabad agreed to cessation of hostilities, four Indian states and two Union Territories neighbouring Pakistan held simulation exercises to prepare for air raids, drone attacks and other wartime scenarios on Saturday. Emergency response teams practised rescue operations as part of civil defence mock drills under Operation Shield in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana and Chandigarh. During the days following Operation Sindoor, under which India attacked 11 terror sites inside Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, heavy cross-border shelling and drone attacks were observed in border states. The emergency preparedness drill, initially scheduled for May 29, was postponed due to administrative reasons. A government press release reiterated the importance of the exercise, especially to close critical gaps identified during the previous nationwide drill conducted on May 7. A range of hostile situations were simulated on Saturday to evaluate the preparedness of civil and emergency response systems. These included air raid sirens, blackout protocols, and coordinated emergency response actions. The drills aimed to replicate real-life scenarios that could result from potential external threats, especially in areas located near the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB). Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh: A large number of civil defence volunteers participated in mock drills held in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh. Blackout rehearsals were carried out with electricity supply shut off in many places. Volunteers also acted out scenarios where injured people would be required to be transported via stretchers to ambulances. The mock drills, which included exercises to extinguish fires, saw coordinated participation from multiple agencies, including the fire and emergency services, police, health department and disaster management authorities. Trained volunteers from the Civil Defence, National Service Scheme (NSS) and National Cadet Corps (NCC) also participated in the exercise. A key highlight of Operation Shield was the massive participation of around 10,000 Civil Defence volunteers, who worked in close coordination with the National Cadet Corps (NCC), Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), Home Guards and National Service Scheme (NSS). Jammu & Kashmir: As part of the mock drill conducted across Kashmir valley, a blackout was observed from 8 pm to 8:15 pm as lights of government buildings, houses and business establishments were turned off. In Srinagar, lights were turned off in the Lal Chowk City centre, including the historic Ghanta Ghar (Clock Tower), officials said. Business activities, vehicular movement and routine operations were paused for the 15-minute duration, they added. Experts and personnel from State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Health Department, Fire and Emergency Services, along with a large number of students and locals participated in the exercises. Gujarat: Mock drills were held and blackouts were enforced in 18 districts of Gujarat, including Rajkot, Kutch, Patan, Morbi, Banaskantha, Chhota Udaipur and Nadiad. 'In Ahmedabad, a civil defence mock drill was organised at Sadar Bazar Cantonment in Shahibaug. Under these drills, programmes like volunteer mobilisation, air raid simulations, communication system activation, blackout protocol, blood donation camp and evacuation procedures were held,' an official release said. Rajasthan: A mock drill, simulating an air attack from hostile actors, took place in a school in Khatipura near Jaipur, where emergency response teams practised rescue operations. Civil Defence and SDRFs activated emergency response protocols, shifting volunteers enacting as injured to nearby hospitals. During the drill in Jaipur, people were simulated as being trapped on rooftops following the airstrike. Rescue teams used cranes to evacuate them safely.
The Print
8 hours ago
- Politics
- The Print
Civil defence exercise ‘Operation Shield' conducted in Punjab and Haryana
Scenes of volunteers enacting as injured being taken on stretchers to ambulances and fire being put out played out during the mock drills. The emergency situations were simulated in all districts of the two neighbouring states during the exercise, which began on Saturday evening. Chandigarh, May 31 (PTI) The authorities in Punjab and Haryana on Saturday conducted a major statewide civil defence exercise named 'Operation Shield' to enhance emergency preparedness and response capabilities. The drills were aimed at evaluating and enhancing the efficacy of emergency response mechanisms in real-time situations. The mock drills saw coordinated participation from multiple agencies, including the fire and emergency services, police, health department and disaster management authorities. The trained volunteers from the Civil Defence, National Service Scheme (NSS) and National Cadet Corps (NCC) also participated in the exercise. This drill was earlier scheduled for May 29, but it was postponed as per instructions of the Union Home Ministry. The comprehensive drill was organised under the guidance of the Union Home Ministry to simulate critical incidents such as air raids, drone attacks and other wartime scenarios in the light of current national security concerns. The exercise was conducted across Punjab and Haryana. In Punjab's Hoshiarpur, the drill was based on a hypothetical scenario in which a swarm of enemy drones attacked a military station, prompting the station commander to seek immediate assistance from the civil administration. In response, a coordinated effort was simulated to rescue and evacuate 20 affected individuals to a safe location. Speaking at the conclusion of the drill, Deputy Commissioner Ashika Jain said that the exercise was part of the government's proactive preparedness strategy to ensure efficient coordination and operational readiness of the administration during any crisis. She clarified that the drill was a routine preparedness measure and there was no cause for panic among residents. 'The primary objective of the mock drill is to mentally prepare the public for emergency situations and ensure seamless inter-departmental coordination,' said Jain, urging the youth to follow official guidelines and actively support awareness campaigns. The drill witnessed active participation from the Civil Defence, the fire department, medical teams, 12 Punjab NCC, police personnel and Home Guards. A detailed review of inter-agency coordination and swift response capabilities was also carried out during the exercise. Dasuya Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Kanwaljit Singh coordinated the drill in collaboration with the Punjab Police, Home Guards, Civil Defence, Civil Surgeon's office and the fire department, ensuring its successful execution. The event also drew attention from the local residents, many of whom appreciated the administration's initiative and emphasized the importance of such preparedness measures. The officials assured that similar drills would be held in future to further strengthen the district's emergency response mechanisms. An air raid warning siren was sounded in Punjab's Fazilka, a border district, at 6 pm following which the drill began. Jalalabad SDM Kanwarjit Singh said the main purpose of such drill was to keep oneself prepared in the event of any emergency situation. He emphasized the participation of people in such an exercise, stressing that any emergency situation can be dealt with in a better manner with public participation. PTI CHS AS AS This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
The Hindu
8 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Civil defence exercise 'Operation Shield' conducted in Punjab and Haryana
The authorities in Punjab and Haryana on Saturday conducted a major Statewide civil defence exercise named "Operation Shield" to enhance emergency preparedness and response capabilities. The emergency situations were simulated in all districts of the two neighbouring States during the exercise, which began on Saturday evening. Scenes of volunteers enacting as injured being taken on stretchers to ambulances and fire being put out played out during the mock drills. The drills were aimed at evaluating and enhancing the efficacy of emergency response mechanisms in real-time situations. The mock drills saw coordinated participation from multiple agencies, including the fire and emergency services, police, health department and disaster management authorities. The trained volunteers from the Civil Defence, National Service Scheme (NSS) and National Cadet Corps (NCC) also participated in the exercise. This drill was earlier scheduled for May 29, but it was postponed as per instructions of the Union Home Ministry. The comprehensive drill was organised under the guidance of the Union Home Ministry to simulate critical incidents such as air raids, drone attacks and other wartime scenarios in the light of current national security concerns. The exercise was conducted across Punjab and Haryana. In Punjab's Hoshiarpur, the drill was based on a hypothetical scenario in which a swarm of enemy drones attacked a military station, prompting the station commander to seek immediate assistance from the civil administration. In response, a coordinated effort was simulated to rescue and evacuate 20 affected individuals to a safe location. Speaking at the conclusion of the drill, Deputy Commissioner Ashika Jain said that the exercise was part of the government's proactive preparedness strategy to ensure efficient coordination and operational readiness of the administration during any crisis. She clarified that the drill was a routine preparedness measure and there was no cause for panic among residents. "The primary objective of the mock drill is to mentally prepare the public for emergency situations and ensure seamless inter-departmental coordination," said Jain, urging the youth to follow official guidelines and actively support awareness campaigns. The drill witnessed active participation from the Civil Defence, the fire department, medical teams, 12 Punjab NCC, police personnel and Home Guards. A detailed review of inter-agency coordination and swift response capabilities was also carried out during the exercise. Dasuya Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Kanwaljit Singh coordinated the drill in collaboration with the Punjab Police, Home Guards, Civil Defence, Civil Surgeon's office and the fire department, ensuring its successful execution. The event also drew attention from the local residents, many of whom appreciated the administration's initiative and emphasized the importance of such preparedness measures. The officials assured that similar drills would be held in future to further strengthen the district's emergency response mechanisms. An air raid warning siren was sounded in Punjab's Fazilka, a border district, at 6 pm following which the drill began. Jalalabad SDM Kanwarjit Singh said the main purpose of such drill was to keep oneself prepared in the event of any emergency situation. He emphasized the participation of people in such an exercise, stressing that any emergency situation can be dealt with in a better manner with public participation.
NDTV
8 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
"Operation Shield": Civil Defence Exercise Conducted In Punjab, Haryana
Chandigarh: The authorities in Punjab and Haryana on Saturday conducted a major statewide civil defence exercise named "Operation Shield" to enhance emergency preparedness and response capabilities. The emergency situations were simulated in all districts of the two neighbouring states during the exercise, which began on Saturday evening. Scenes of volunteers enacting as injured being taken on stretchers to ambulances and fire being put out played out during the mock drills. The drills were aimed at evaluating and enhancing the efficacy of emergency response mechanisms in real-time situations. The mock drills saw coordinated participation from multiple agencies, including the fire and emergency services, police, health department and disaster management authorities. The trained volunteers from the Civil Defence, National Service Scheme (NSS) and National Cadet Corps (NCC) also participated in the exercise. This drill was earlier scheduled for May 29, but it was postponed as per instructions of the Union Home Ministry. The comprehensive drill was organised under the guidance of the Union Home Ministry to simulate critical incidents such as air raids, drone attacks and other wartime scenarios in the light of current national security concerns. The exercise was conducted across Punjab and Haryana. In Punjab's Hoshiarpur, the drill was based on a hypothetical scenario in which a swarm of enemy drones attacked a military station, prompting the station commander to seek immediate assistance from the civil administration. In response, a coordinated effort was simulated to rescue and evacuate 20 affected individuals to a safe location. Speaking at the conclusion of the drill, Deputy Commissioner Ashika Jain said that the exercise was part of the government's proactive preparedness strategy to ensure efficient coordination and operational readiness of the administration during any crisis. She clarified that the drill was a routine preparedness measure and there was no cause for panic among residents. "The primary objective of the mock drill is to mentally prepare the public for emergency situations and ensure seamless inter-departmental coordination," said Jain, urging the youth to follow official guidelines and actively support awareness campaigns. The drill witnessed active participation from the Civil Defence, the fire department, medical teams, 12 Punjab NCC, police personnel and Home Guards. A detailed review of inter-agency coordination and swift response capabilities was also carried out during the exercise. Dasuya Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Kanwaljit Singh coordinated the drill in collaboration with the Punjab Police, Home Guards, Civil Defence, Civil Surgeon's office and the fire department, ensuring its successful execution. The event also drew attention from the local residents, many of whom appreciated the administration's initiative and emphasized the importance of such preparedness measures. The officials assured that similar drills would be held in future to further strengthen the district's emergency response mechanisms. An air raid warning siren was sounded in Punjab's Fazilka, a border district, at 6 pm following which the drill began. Jalalabad SDM Kanwarjit Singh said the main purpose of such drill was to keep oneself prepared in the event of any emergency situation. He emphasized the participation of people in such an exercise, stressing that any emergency situation can be dealt with in a better manner with public participation.
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First Post
17 hours ago
- Politics
- First Post
What is Operation Shield to be held in border states, UTs today?
All districts in states and Union Territories bordering Pakistan are conducting civil defence mock drills today under Operation Shield. Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, and Chandigarh will conduct massive mock exercises. Here's a detailed look at preparations in each state &UT read more Advertisement (File) NDRF, SDRF and Fire Brigade personnel take part in a mock drill, organised by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in preparation of the annual Char Dham Yatra, in Dehradun, on April 24, 2025. PTI The Union Home Ministry has officially announced that 'Operation Shield', a large-scale civil defence mock drill, will be carried out on Saturday, May 31, from 5 pm onwards, across all districts in states and Union Territories bordering Pakistan, a government press release said. This means the exercise will be held in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, and Chandigarh. The drill was initially slated for May 29, but was postponed earlier this week due to what authorities described as 'administrative reasons.' Officials have since confirmed that all preparations are now complete for the new date. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD So, what exactly is Operation Shield all about? How are the states gearing up for this massive mock exercise? And how does it compare to previous May 7 civil defence drills? Here's what we know so far. All about Operation Shield Operation Shield is part of a broader civil defence initiative launched by the government to assess and strengthen the country's readiness in the face of possible external threats. The drill is designed to simulate various emergency scenarios, such as enemy air raids, drone intrusions, missile strikes, and mass evacuations. It will include silent and general recall of civil defence volunteers, evacuation drills, and emergency communication exercises. Operation Shield is part of a broader civil defence initiative launched by the government to assess and strengthen the country's readiness in the face of possible external threats. File image/PTI The first round of such mock exercises took place on May 7, the same day India launched Operation Sindoor , a retaliatory strike targeting nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The strikes came in response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack, which left 26 innocents dead. The situation escalated rapidly, with four days of military tension from May 7 to 10, during which Pakistan launched heavy artillery shelling and attempted drone and missile attacks along both the International Border and the Line of Control (LoC). Operation Shield: Why now? According to a government press statement issued on May 29, the decision to conduct Operation Shield stems from key lessons learned during the earlier exercise. 'Several shortcomings were observed in the previous exercise,' the statement noted, adding that the upcoming drill aims to 'fill the critical gaps and augment the Civil Defence preparedness against the hostile attack.' The press note further instructed local authorities to fully engage with the drill: 'It is requested to plan and organise the Civil Defence Exercise 'Operation Shield' on 31.05.2025 at 1700 Hrs onwards (the exact time may be suited as per local convenience) by involving all local administration and stakeholders. An action taken report in this regard may be shared with this directorate,' the release said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The drill will focus especially on regions near the Line of Control, where the risk of cross-border aggression remains highest. Officials say the goal is to raise both preparedness levels and civilian awareness in these sensitive zones. The decision to conduct Operation Shield stems from key lessons learned during the earlier exercise. File photo/PTI The mock drill will involve 'Civil Defence Wardens/Volunteers stakeholders from local administration and youth volunteers like NCC, NSS NYKS, Bharat Scouts & Guides' in the implementation of several civil defence measures against rival aircraft, drones and missile attacks. Operation Shield: Jammu and Kashmir In Jammu & Kashmir, the Directorates of SDRF and Civil Defence will carry out a large-scale civil defence mock drill as part of Operation Shield, starting at 5 pm across the Union Territory. The exercise will cover several sensitive border districts, including Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Udhampur, Rajouri, Poonch, Baramulla, and Kupwara, regions that lie close to the Line of Control (LoC) and are frequently exposed to cross-border threats. Given the security dynamics of the region, Operation Shield in J&K is expected to serve as a critical test of ground-level preparedness and the civilian response system during emergency situations. To support the exercise, officials had earlier issued a comprehensive civil defence drill preparation guide for residents, outlining actions to be taken in the event of air raids or missile threats. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Operation Shield: Punjab & Chandigarh In Punjab, the mock drill under Operation Shield will be marked by complete blackout measures in vulnerable civilian areas along the border. A government spokesperson said that the blackout would exclude emergency and critical services. To simulate an actual attack scenario, air raid sirens will also be sounded during the drill. The exercise is set to include sirens, blackouts, and a range of emergency simulations, all aimed at assessing how prepared local authorities and the public are in the face of potential attacks or disasters. In Punjab, the mock drill under Operation Shield will be marked by complete blackout measures in vulnerable civilian areas along the border. File image/ X Punjab's Special Director General of Police, Sanjeev Kalra, confirmed that the drill will cover all districts in the state and will begin at 6 pm. 'The mock drill is a part of Operation Shield and is being conducted in all districts of the bordering states on the Western border. The mock drill will be conducted by 6 pm,' Kalra was quoted as saying in a LiveMint report. The high-intensity simulation is expected to test both infrastructure and coordination among civil, police, and emergency response units across the state. In Chandigarh, a 10-minute blackout, starting at 8 pm, will be observed in Kishangarh and IT Park, stated the official release. Operation Shield: Haryana In Haryana, the state government has announced that Operation Shield mock drills will be conducted across all 22 districts as part of efforts to boost emergency preparedness and response across the region. Officials told PTI that the exercises will start at 5 pm, and will simulate high-risk scenarios such as air raids, drone strikes, and other wartime emergencies. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A controlled blackout will also take place near vital installations in the state, from 8:00 pm to 8:15 pm, to mirror possible power outages during an actual attack. However, essential services like hospitals, fire stations, and police stations will remain operational and unaffected. In Haryana, the state government has announced that Operation Shield mock drills will be conducted across all 22 districts as part of efforts to boost emergency preparedness and response across the region. File image/ PTI Haryana's Joint Secretary Sumita Mishra confirmed that the drills would strictly follow guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). 'The mock drill will be conducted throughout Haryana on 31st May. We will also be following the guidelines of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)…The mock drill will prepare us for any future contingencies…32,000 volunteers will also participate in the mock drill…We are training and briefing these volunteers…The activities will be done after 5 pm,' Mishra said. Operation Shield: Rajasthan Officials from Rajasthan confirmed that similar mock drills and blackout exercises, part of 'Operation Shield', will encompass all 41 districts, including Jaisalmer. Official sources told NDTV, the mock drill, mandated by the Rajasthan Home Department, will begin at 5:00 pm, although the exact location in Jaisalmer district has been kept confidential for security purposes. 'We are being trained under the leadership of experienced officers. Along with the mock drill, we are always ready to deal with emergency situations,' said a Civil Defence personnel during a briefing. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As part of preparations in Jaisalmer, six locations were selected for airstrike warning sirens, and a total of 72 Civil Defence personnel were deployed for the operation. These sirens were to be used during the blackout phase to simulate an air attack environment. Operation Shield: Gujarat Several districts across Gujarat are set to participate in Operation Shield, with drills designed to test the state's preparedness in the event of cross-border threats or wartime emergencies. According to a local news outlet, Bombay Samachar, in the Patan district, eighteen key locations have been identified for blackout exercises. Neighbouring municipalities such as Siddhpur, Chanasma, Harij, and Radhanpur will also take part in the drill. During the blackout phase, which will take place from 8:00 pm to 8:30 pm, streetlights, shop signage, and other external lighting systems will be switched off. Drills are also anticipated in major cities like Vadodara and Surat. To ensure smooth execution, the Revenue Department, led by Additional Chief Secretary Dr. Jayanti Ravi, conducted a virtual review of the state's readiness. She has directed all district collectors to maintain effective coordination with local agencies and ensure seamless implementation of the exercise. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With input from agencies
