ISLAMABAD: India will launch extensive civil defence mock drills starting Thursday in three border states amid ceasefire agreement with Pakistan following heightened military tensions.
According to Indian media, mock drills will be held in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), Punjab and Gujarat on Thursday evening, authorities said.
The Haryana government has also announced a state-wide emergency preparedness exercise titled “Operation Shield,” scheduled for May 29 across all 22 districts from 5pm (local time) onwards, aimed at enhancing readiness in the event of crises.
The drill, being organised under the guidance of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), will simulate critical incidents such as air raids, drone attacks, and other wartime scenarios in the wake of national security concerns, as per the Indian media.
Additionally, a controlled blackout of 15 minutes will be observed from 8pm to 8.15pm near vital installations, with the exception of essential emergency services such as hospitals, fire stations, and police stations.
Dr Sumita Misra, Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Haryana said, “The exercise aims to test existing emergency mechanisms, improve coordination between the civil administration, defence forces, and local communities, and identify areas that need to be strengthened, thus ensuring swift and effective response during any crisis.”
Earlier, a statewide mock drill was conducted on May 7 shortly after India launched airstrikes in Pakistan, which hit civilian populations including mosques, claiming lives of 26 civilians.
The ceasefire, announced by US President Donald Trump came after Pakistan launched retaliatory action under “Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos” in response to India’s unprovoked missile and drone attacks on Pakistani civilians and military sites.
Pakistan downed its six fighter jets, including three Rafale, and dozens of drones. After at least 87 hours, the war between the two nuclear-armed nations ended on May 10 with a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States.
According to ISPR, a total of 53 individuals, including 13 personnel of the armed forces and 40 civilians, were martyred in Indian strikes during the recent military confrontation.
The military confrontation between the two countries was triggered by last month’s attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) that left 26 tourists dead, with India blaming Pakistan for the attack without offering any evidence.
