Mock drill across six states, UTs under 'Operation Shield' today | What we know

Mock drill across J&K, Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat follows home ministry directiv

Civil defence drills are set to take place on Saturday across Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Chandigarh, and Jammu & Kashmir under “Operation Shield,” following a nationwide exercise conducted on 7 May amid India-Pakistan tensions.

View of the Golden Temple during a partial blackout as part of a nationwide civil defence mock drill, Operation Abhyaas, in Amritsar, on May 7. (PTI/File)

These drills follow the directive issued by the home ministry following the Pahalgam terror attack.

Earlier, the mock drills were scheduled to be held in the bordering states and Union Territories on May 29; however, they were postponed due to administrative reasons.

Mock drills on May 31 | What we know:

1. A Punjab government spokesperson said that complete blackout measures would be implemented in adjoining civilian vulnerable areas and vulnerable points, excluding emergency and critical services and air raid sirens would be sounded.
2. The above-mentioned spokesperson added that in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 19 of the Civil Defence Rules, 1968, the Union ministry of home affairs, Government of India, has decided to hold the second civil defence exercise in all districts of states/UTs adjoining the western border of the country.
3. On the other hand, the Haryana government said that it will conduct the mock drills across all 22 districts to enhance the state's emergency preparedness and response capabilities. Officials said that the exercise will begin at 5pm and the drills will simulate critical incidents such as air raids, drone attacks, and other wartime scenarios, according to PTI.
4. Additionally, a controlled blackout of 15 minutes will be observed from 8 pm to 8.15 pm near vital installations in Haryana, with exception of essential emergency services such as hospitals, fire stations, and police stations.
5. Officials said that mock drill and blackout exercise under 'Operation Shield' are scheduled to be held across all 41 districts of Rajasthan as well on May 31, ANI news agency reported, citing sources.
6. The chief secretaries have directed preparations for seven different scenarios, including the general or silent recall of civil defence volunteers and other groups such as the National Cadet Corps, air raids by enemy aircraft, drone and missile attacks, and activation of hotlines between air force and civil defence control rooms.
7. Other scenarios include complete blackout measures in civilian-adjacent areas, an enemy drone attack on a military station requiring the relocation of families, augmentation of medical facilities in case of mass injuries, and the deployment of border wing home guards to assist the Army during emergencies.
8. A senior officer in Gujarat, who asked not to be named, told Hindustan Times,“The new order said we have to hold it at 5 pm on Saturday. We will be following the instructions and holding the drill.”