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Hindustan Times
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Mock drills in India: Sirens, blackouts, evacuations amid Pakistan standoff
In line with a Ministry of Home Affairs directive, several 'civil defence districts' nationwide experienced blackouts, among several other measures which were a part of a mock drill exercise to improve war-time preparedness. Blackout exercises took over the nation as mock drill exercises were conducted as per a directive from the Ministry of Home Affairs.(Ravi Kumar/ Hindustan Times) Follow LIVE updates on the mock drills here The mock drill exercise was conducted as India retaliated against Pakistan, amid rising tensions between the two countries following the Pahalgam terror attack and the 'Operation Sindoor' that Indian armed forces conducted on Wednesday to neutralise nine terror targets in Pakistan. As part of the mock drills, parts of India, especially metro cities like Delhi and Mumbai, saw air raid sirens beeping, evacuation procedures, fire drills and more on Wednesday. Here's everything you need to know about the blackouts: - In Delhi, the NDMC area, experienced a blackout from 8 to 8:15 pm. The area encompasses India Gate, Connaught Place and Lutyens' Delhi, including key landmarks like Rashtrapati Bhawan, Parliament House, Supreme Court, and the Central Secretariat. Power supply for the entire area was cut out straight from the switchyards. Lights began to gradually turn on for several locations including the North and South Block of parliament. - Around the same time, other areas of Delhi such as Akshardham, Khan Market and Moti Nagar also went dark. Also Read: Gurugram to simulate air raid, blackout in mock drill today - The Rashtrapati Bhawan, PM Modi's residence - 7, Lok Kalyan Marg and the Intensive Care Units (ICU) of hospitals and metro stations in the area were exempted from the blackout. Also Read: From blackouts to air-raid sirens, Ghaziabad braces for mother of all drills today - A blackout also took place in parts of Patna, Bihar, including the Raj Bhavan and chief minister's house. - After warnings from sirens, a blackout also began around 7:30 pm in Himachal Pradesh's Shimla. - Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior, Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur and Katni also experienced a blackout from 7:30 to 7:42 pm. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav reviewed the blackout during the state-wide civil defence mock drill on video conference with the State Command Centre. - In Haryana, Gurugram was to undergo a full-night blackout as a part of the mock drill exercise, in order to fully experience a no-light zone, according to Deputy Commissioner Ajay Kumar. - In Uttar Pradesh, parts of Noida and Ghaziabad went dark, while the entire district of Bareilly experienced a blackout from 8 to 8:10 pm. Bareilly district magistrate Avinash Singh urged residents to avoid using inverters, flashlights and phones. - UP CM Yogi Adityanath also supervised a mock drill being held amid a blackout, at Reserve Police Lines in Lucknow. Lights also went out in Ghaziabad. Also Read: From sirens to silence: How Mumbai lost its daily wail - In Mumbai, a blackout took place at 8 pm Today at 8 pm in Anushakti Nagar, Govandi and Atomic colony, Tarapur. - A blackout exercise was also held in Gujarat's Surat, Bhuj and Ahmedabad as part of the mock drill. The Statue of Unity in Kevadia, Narmada also went dark earlier on Wednesday. -Vishakhapatnam also experienced a blackout at 7 PM in Kotha Jalaripeta and Oxygen Towers, right after an air-raid simulation to test preparedness in the face of an emergency. - A blackout took place at key locations in Tripura from 5:30 to 5:40 pm to check the readiness of the areas to face an emergency. A siren was sounded at first to warn residents. - Residents in Amritsar were urged to turn off their lights during a blackout scheduled at 10:30 pm, after which power was restored. A siren announced the blackout to prepare citizens, stated Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sahni. A blackout also took place in a mall in Mohali and in Chandigarh.
Hindustan Times
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
May 7 Mock drills: India gears up for wartime blackouts, sirens and more
May 06, 2025 10:24 PM IST India will conduct one of its most extensive civil defence preparedness exercises in decades on Wednesday (May 7) as part of a nationwide mock drill to test emergency response preparedness amid heightened tensions with Pakistan after the ghastly Pahalgam terror attack. Security personnel were deployed at Connaught Place, a day before the nationwide mock drills ordered by the Ministry of Home Affairs.(PTI) On Monday, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) directed all states and union territories to conduct full-scale civil defence mock drills to check preparedness against "new and complex threats". The mock drills, as per the government, will involve air raid siren tests, wartime blackout simulations, activation of emergency control rooms, evacuation rehearsals, and coordination with the Indian Air Force. Along with the civil defence mock drills, the Indian Air Force will also launch a high-intensity aerial exercise over the desert sector and adjoining areas along the Western border starting Tuesday, ANI reported, citing IAF officials. It will be a two-day mega military exercise. These security mock drills come just weeks after the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, in which 26 people were killed. The Centre, since then, vowed a 'zero-tolerance' approach to security threats. Mock security drills tomorrow: Top updates Mock drills: According to an MHA list doing the rounds, mock security drills are expected to be carried out at 259 categorised civil defence districts across the country on May 7. According to an MHA list doing the rounds, mock security drills are expected to be carried out at 259 categorised civil defence districts across the country on May 7. Mock drill time: According to information we could gather, mock drills across several cities are expected to start around 4 pm. The timing across cities may vary. According to information we could gather, mock drills across several cities are expected to start around 4 pm. The timing across cities may vary. Measures: The measures to be taken during the mock drills include the operationalisation of air-raid warning sirens, training civilians on civil-defence aspects to protect themselves in the event of a "hostile attack" and cleaning of bunkers and trenches. The measures to be taken during the mock drills include the operationalisation of air-raid warning sirens, training civilians on civil-defence aspects to protect themselves in the event of a "hostile attack" and cleaning of bunkers and trenches. Objectives: The primary objectives of the mock drill include assessment of the effectiveness of air raid warning systems, operationalisation of hotline/radio communication links with the Indian Air Force, testing of the functionality of control rooms and shadow control rooms and training of civilians, students, etc., on civil defence aspects to protect themselves in the event of a hostile attack. The primary objectives of the mock drill include assessment of the effectiveness of air raid warning systems, operationalisation of hotline/radio communication links with the Indian Air Force, testing of the functionality of control rooms and shadow control rooms and training of civilians, students, etc., on civil defence aspects to protect themselves in the event of a hostile attack. Who's involved: The authorities in all states will involve students of educational institutions, employees of government and private organisations, hospital staff, railway and metro officials, besides uniformed personnel of the police, paramilitary and defence forces, while conducting the mock drills. The authorities in all states will involve students of educational institutions, employees of government and private organisations, hospital staff, railway and metro officials, besides uniformed personnel of the police, paramilitary and defence forces, while conducting the mock drills. Nuclear plants, military bases: Mock drills will be conducted in regions with sensitive installations like nuclear plants, military bases, refineries, and hydroelectric dams. Mock drills will be conducted in regions with sensitive installations like nuclear plants, military bases, refineries, and hydroelectric dams. Vulnerable cities: Most vulnerable places include metro cities like Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata and cities that have vital installations like nuclear facilities or are along the border, they said. Most vulnerable places include metro cities like Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata and cities that have vital installations like nuclear facilities or are along the border, they said. Mock drill in Delhi: The Delhi government issued a list of dos' and don'ts for the exercise 'Operation Abhyaas' at 55 locations across the national capital. The Delhi government issued a list of dos' and don'ts for the exercise 'Operation Abhyaas' at 55 locations across the national capital. Will daily services run? Despite the scale of the operation, officials have confirmed that daily services, including public transport systems, trains, buses, and flights, will continue to operate on schedule. Despite the scale of the operation, officials have confirmed that daily services, including public transport systems, trains, buses, and flights, will continue to operate on schedule. IAF's aerial exercise: The Indian Air Force (IAF) will launch a two-day high-intensity aerial exercise over the desert sector and adjoining areas along the Western border starting Wednesday.
