Latest news with #CivilDefenceDistricts
Indian Express
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Daily Briefing: India strikes back
In the most expansive and widespread retaliation by India in recent years, the Indian armed forces attacked nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday. Here's what you should know: Codenamed 'Operation Sindoor', ostensibly a reference to only men being singled out based on their faith before being killed in Pahalgam, the retaliation comes two weeks after the April 21 terror attack. The high-precision missile strikes targeted locations in Bahawalpur and Muridke in Pakistan's Punjab and Muzaffarabad and Kotli in PoK. These cities are home to terror camps belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba. The strikes saw unanimous support from leaders across party lines, who hailed the armed forces. Pakistan, meanwhile, resorted to a sharp escalation in ceasefire violations along the Line of Control, hours after the Indian strikes. Cross-border shelling in the Rajouri and Poonch districts and the Uri and Tangdhar sectors in the Kashmir Valley forced residents of frontier villages to flee or hide in underground bunkers. At least three civilians have been killed and five others injured in the firing, per Army sources. Flight operations have been hit across Indian airports, particularly those close to the India-Pakistan border or in the vicinity of key Indian Air Force bases. Airports in Srinagar, Amritsar, Jammu, Leh, and Dharamshala have suspended civilian flights. At least 20 flights were cancelled at the Delhi airport this morning. A real-time flight tracker, Flightradar24, showed no airplanes flying north of Delhi or over western India and Pakistan. Meanwhile, India will conduct nationwide mock drills today to assess and enhance civil defence mechanisms in the event of a hostile event. The drills will be carried out in 244 categorised Civil Defence Districts. Does your home fall in the district, and how will the drills impact your life? Read all about it here. On that note, here's what else is brewing today. India, UK sign trade pact India and the United Kingdom have sealed the long-awaited free trade agreement (FTA) to enhance bilateral trade, create jobs and boost investments in both countries. Once the deal comes into effect, UK tariffs on several commodities, including footwear, textiles, automobile components, and electrical machinery, will be eliminated. India, on its part, will significantly cut tariffs on whiskey and gin and slash automobile duties from 100 per cent to 10 per cent. The recent volley of tariffs unleashed by United States President Donald Trump and the ensuing global uncertainty have pushed countries to negotiate trade deals with partners. India also wants to sign pacts with the US and the European Union. Don't miss my colleague Shubhajit Roy's explainer on the agreement's geo-economic significance. Must Read Reshaping the Republic: In an ongoing Express series tracking landmark cases, today's spotlight is on Sajjan Singh, a landowner in Rajasthan. Singh's 1964 case against the state's land ceiling laws raised a pertinent question, which remains contentious even today: What is the extent of Parliament's power to amend the Constitution? Read on. Rules: Satellite communication firms like Elon Musk's Starlink, Amazon's Kuiper and Eutelsat OneWeb are looking to roll out their services in Indian markets. However, the government has some conditions: manufacture in India, store data locally, cooperate with law enforcement, and more. And Finally… Two players locked in a silent battle over a chessboard might not make great TV. Add in the unpredictable length—a tense three-hour duel that could still end in a draw—and it's easy to see why chess has struggled to break into mainstream broadcasting. But with India's chess scene exploding and a new wave of young prodigies taking on the world's best, the question is shifting: Can chess evolve into a broadcast-friendly spectacle, or is it destined to remain in online streaming? My colleague Amit Kamath may have some answers. I leave you with the latest episode of the '3 Things' podcast. Today's lineup: an update from the LoC, the significance of Mission Sankalp and another NEET scandal.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
06-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
India's May 7 mock drills: How should you be prepared?
The Centre has announced pan-India security drills on Wednesday amid heightening tensions with Pakistan in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack. As all states and Union Territories get ready for the security exercise, here's a guide on dos and don'ts for the common man read more India is set to hold a nationwide security drill on Wednesday (May 7) as tensions with Pakistan mount in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has directed all states to carry out mock drills, citing the 'new and complex threats' after the April 22 massacre in Jammu and Kashmir that took 26 lives. Such elaborate drills were last conducted in India in 1971 when India and Pakistan went to war on two fronts. Along with the police, paramilitary and defence forces, authorities will engage students, government and private employees, hospital staff, railway and metro officials in the security exercise. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Here's your complete guide to the mock drill on May 7. What will happen in the mock drill? The Centre has asked all states and Union Territories to conduct mock security drills across 244 Civil Defence Districts. However, more than 300 such districts with vital installations like nuclear plants, military bases, refineries, and hydroelectric dams will be carrying out the exercise, sources told PTI. Civil Defence Districts are those areas that the government selects for implementing civil defence programmes. These regions are demarcated on the basis of the location of towns or districts, such as those near borders; the site of vital installations, including nuclear plants and important government buildings; and critical infrastructure like key highways or ports. During the mock drill, air raid warning sirens will be heard. The MHA's direction also mentions 'provision for crash blackout measures' in selected areas and training civilians on safety protocols in the event of an aerial or ground assault. Other measures include assessing the readiness of control rooms, organising rehearsals of evacuation plans and camouflaging sensitive installations such as power plants. It will also entail cleaning of existing bunkers and trenches, activating Civil Defence Services like warden services, firefighting, and rescue service, as well as operationalising hotline/radio communication links with the Indian Air Force (IAF). The Civil Defence Act of 1968 empowers the government to control people's movement, impose curfews, close roads, ports, and transport services in case of emergencies. How will it affect the public? The crash blackout measures are expected to lead to sudden power cuts for a brief period. Blackouts are implemented during conflicts to protect people and vital infrastructure against the enemy's line of fire. According to a 2003 document titled 'General Principles of Civil Defence in India', 'no light shall be visible at a height of 5,000 ft above ground level under normal visibility conditions'. The darkness will make it difficult for advanced high-speed aircraft to attack their target. 'The anxiety level of the enemy pilot in the cockpit would be more if the area is dark,' it says. Power cuts are to be done gradually, with curbs applying to street lights, factories and lights from vehicles. Illuminated advertisements in vulnerable areas are also to be shut down when civil defence measures are implemented. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Lights in buildings are allowed to be switched on only if they are covered with opaque material. The mock drill advisory states that people should put up blackout curtains or blinds on all windows. Outdoor lights must be turned off during drills, and no light should be visible from outside. People are also advised not to step out unnecessarily during the drills. ALSO READ: When India 'hid' the Taj Mahal from Pakistani air forces during 1971 war After an air raid warning, all vehicles in a particular area will be stopped and people will be expected to take shelter and other precautionary measures. Those living in vulnerable villages and towns could be evacuated and shifted to shelters, bunkers or trenches. 'Identify the nearest shelter locations, such as basements, underground car parks, or designated safe zones,' the mock drill advisory states. After hearing the siren, people should immediately take cover in the nearest shelter. Civilians should pay attention to only official announcements and not panic when they hear air raid warning sirens. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Army personnel and students perform a mock drill in Army school premises in Mathura in 2016. File Photo/PTI The public may also experience communication disruptions during the pan-India mock drill. The advisory says that non-essential use of mobile phones should be avoided to keep 'communication lines free for emergencies.' People should also prepare a basic kit with water, non-perishable food items, a flashlight, and basic medical supplies. Sources told India Today, there will be instructions to keep cash handy to be ready for situations if mobile devices and digital transactions fail. Those who live near critical installations are advised not to share sensitive information about the facility. They should also report any unfamiliar activity and not interfere with camouflaging activities. A senior official who is in charge of civil defence told CNN-News18 that the Geneva Convention requires the protection of civilians in times of war. 'So, we must empower them, train them to protect themselves. The last such training was in 1999 and before that in 1971. Most young people of this generation are unaware of such a situation. Hence the necessity of the drill," the official added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies
