07-05-2025
Patriotism, nostalgia fill the air at Vasant Kunj apartment
New Delhi: At Santushti Apartments in Vasant Kunj , the air was thick with patriotic fervour. The drill unfolded not just as a routine civil preparedness exercise but also as a likely tribute to ' Operation Sindoor '.The simulated scenario portrayed an airstrike raid, complete with fire tenders, civil defence teams and emergency responders springing into action. What followed transformed the exercise into something more than protocol—it became more like a celebration of national pride .As the sirens faded, children and civil defence volunteers gathered in unison, singing 'Saare Jahan Se Achha' and 'Vande Mataram'. "Civil defence holds such drills regularly, and it truly brings awareness," said Snehlata Rathi, president of RWA. "But today felt different. The event struck an emotional chord. It's like a symbolic slap to those who try to harm our country. We responded powerfully."Another resident, Shakha Sahota, 63, echoed similar sentiments: "Operation Sindoor is such a beautiful name—honouring the dignity of our women. And this was a message delivered precisely—no civilians or army harmed, only terror infrastructure hit."For her, and some others too, the drill brought back memories. She recalled her vivid childhood memory during the 1971 war. "We had real blackouts—candles lit in the dark, brown paper taped on windows. Even the sound of a distant plane would have us scrambling to hide the flame," she Awasthi, now 75, shared her recollections from the 1965 war: "Air raid sirens were a part of daily life then. In school, we had sample drills, and our 'safe rooms' lined with brown paper sometimes became shelters for over 30 minutes."
