by 
International Desk, May 6, 2025: In response to escalating tensions with Pakistan following a deadly terrorist attack in Pehelgam, Jammu and Kashmir, India's Ministry of Home Affairs has directed several states to conduct emergency preparedness drills. The mock drills, scheduled for Wednesday, May 7, 2025, aim to equip citizens and authorities to handle potential wartime scenarios.
The ministry has outlined key focus areas for the drills, including activating air raid sirens in government offices, training civilians and students through mock exercises, and preparing for sudden blackouts. Citizens are instructed to enter homes, close doors and windows, switch off all lights and electronic devices, and maintain a blackout during siren alerts. The ministry also emphasized avoiding rumors and misinformation.
The drills will span 244 districts across India, including rural areas. In West Bengal, 31 locations across 23 districts, including Kolkata, will participate. The initiative underscores the need for civilians to learn safety measures to protect themselves and their families in the event of a conflict with Pakistan. The Indian Army and local administration will provide training to citizens, with the Modi government stressing that national defense is a collective responsibility, not solely the military’s burden.
This large-scale exercise, the first of its kind since the 1971 India-Pakistan war, reflects India’s heightened alertness amid deteriorating relations with its neighbor, raising concerns about the potential for conflict between the two nuclear-armed nations.
AI/MR
