Blackouts, Evacuation, Hotlines: Details Of Tomorrow’s Security Drill

In accordance with instructions from the Centre, states and Union Territories are getting ready for a civil defense security exercise tomorrow. Although the Centre’s directives to the chief secretaries of the states do not refer to the tensions with Pakistan, the timing of the order, coming shortly after the Pahalgam terror attack, eliminates any ambiguity. The most recent drill of this kind took place prior to the 1971 conflict between India and Pakistan, in which Pakistan was defeated and Bangladesh was formed.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs notification to the states, this drill will be held across the country’s 244 Civil Defence districts. “The conduct of the exercise is planned up to the village level. This exercise aims to assess and enhance the readiness of Civil Defence mechanisms across all States and Union Territories,” it says.

According to the notification, the drill should see “active participation of the District Controller, various district authorities, civil defence wardens/volunteers, Home Guard (active /reservists volunteers), NCC, NSS, NYKS, college and school students”.

The notification also mentions that civilians must be trained to respond to a “hostile attack”.

The notification from the Home Ministry outlines nine goals for this security exercise. The primary objective is to evaluate the efficiency of air raid warning systems and intends to ready individuals for reacting to an aerial assault. Hotline and radio communication channels with the Air Force will be active throughout this exercise. It will additionally assess the operations of control rooms and their corresponding shadow control rooms. The notice states that civilians and students need to receive civil defence training to safeguard themselves “in case of an aggressive attack.”

The training also encompasses crash blackout procedures, involving drills for scheduled blackouts to protect against aerial assaults. During the exercise, officials might request that residents turn off lights for a specific time to simulate a blackout. The training will also cover the concealing of essential plants and installations. This implies actions to protect or conceal vital facilities — like airbases, oil plants, and train depots — from hostile attacks. The exercise will additionally assess the readiness of rescue crews and firefighters, as well as evacuation protocols. The evacuation exercises will practice relocating civilians from at-risk regions to secure areas. Civilians will receive training in first-aid, firefighting, and shelter methods.

The Pahalgam terror assault, where 25 tourists and a Kashmiri pony ride operator were brutally killed, has stunned and appalled the country. The government has promised a firm reaction, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi stating that those responsible for the attack and its planning will receive a punishment beyond their imagination. The inquiry into the Pahalgam assault has suggested a Pakistani involvement, similar to numerous other terrorist incidents on Indian territory previously.

After a sequence of diplomatic actions aimed at Islamabad, such as the halt of the Indus Waters Treaty, New Delhi is now gearing up for a military reaction. In recent days, Prime Minister Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, along with high-ranking ministers and officials from the security apparatus, have held numerous meetings. The Prime Minister has convened with the heads of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and the Defence Secretary, sparking speculation that a significant action against Pakistan could be forthcoming. The Centre’s orders to implement a security agreement seem to be a component of its readiness for a counteroffensive.