Mock drill in Delhi today? What to know about notice going viral on social media

The notice, titled ‘Civil Defence Mock Drill on Hostile Attack’, said a mock drill is being conducted in Delhi to test preparedness for emergency situations.

Published on: Apr 2, 2026, 20:35:17 IST

By Yamini C S

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A notice circulating on social media claiming that a “mock drill on hostile attack” will take place in Delhi at 8 pm today has triggered concern among residents.

The drill is not a sign of imminent danger and authorities urged residents to stay calm as they test protocols in the national capital. (Photo by Parveen Kumar/Hindustan Times)

The notice, titled ‘Civil Defence Mock Drill on Hostile Attack’, stated that a mock drill is being conducted in Delhi on April 2, with the aim of testing preparedness for emergency situations. It claimed to have been issued by the Delhi District Management Authority (North East) and Office of the District Magistrate (North East).

A fact check conducted by HT showed that the notice was genuine and shared by the official handle of the District Magistrate, North East Delhi.

The notice stated that there was no real threat or emergency situation in the national capital and the exercise was part of the drill to test preparedness for emergency situation.

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Authorities conduct a scheduled civil defence exercise as part of preparedness measures, aimed at testing response systems for emergencies, including hostile scenarios. The drill, which begins around 8 pm, includes a planned blackout in select areas, along with coordinated actions involving police, disaster response teams and civic agencies.

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During the exercise, air raid sirens will be sounded across the city, and residents are expected to follow blackout protocols. Officials have clarified that these exercises are routine and stem from broader nationwide directives issued by the Union Home Ministry to strengthen emergency readiness amid evolving security challenges. Similar drills have been carried out in the past under initiatives such as Operation Abhyaas, involving sirens, evacuations and inter-agency coordination.

Check the full notice here:

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The purpose of the exercise is to assess how quickly systems can respond, identify gaps and ensure smoother coordination during real emergencies. It is not indicative of any imminent attack or developing crisis.

Residents who notice temporary blackouts or increased emergency activity have been advised to remain calm and rely only on official communication channels for updates, as the drill is a planned simulation designed to improve preparedness rather than signal danger.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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