India to Conduct Nationwide Security Drill at 259 Sites Tomorrow Amid Pakistan Tensions
Amid heightened tensions with Pakistan, India will conduct a large-scale civil defence drill across 259 locations on May 7 to test preparedness for emergency situations.
India is set to conduct an unprecedented nationwide civil defence drill across 259 sites on Tuesday, May 7, as tensions with Pakistan escalate following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives. This marks the first such exercise since the 1971 Indo-Pak war.
The drill will include simulations of air raid sirens, power blackouts, and emergency responses in both urban and rural zones, with Delhi, Punjab, and West Bengal among the key participating states.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has directed 244 Civil Defence Districts—many in border states such as Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan, and Assam—to simulate multi-hazard scenarios. Over 100 of these districts have been classified as highly sensitive, sources confirmed.
“Ensuring preparedness at the local level is key in the event of sudden escalation,” said a senior official present at the high-level coordination meeting chaired by Home Secretary Govind Mohan on Tuesday.
States with an active network of civil defence volunteers—like Delhi and Punjab—will see intensive mock drills involving crowd control, emergency evacuation, and blackout preparedness. These volunteers typically assist in civic functions but are now being trained for wartime-like contingencies.
“Volunteers are being briefed on public warning systems, first-aid management, and communication protocols during electronic outages,” said an official from Delhi’s Civil Defence wing.
Officials have advised citizens in sensitive areas to keep basic emergency supplies ready—including torches, candles, first-aid kits, and cash—anticipating the possibility of power or internet outages during emergencies.
Sources also revealed that the ongoing review by the Home Ministry is assessing the functionality of current civil defence infrastructure across India, some of which may require urgent upgrades.
The decision to conduct nationwide drills comes in response to the deadly terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir’s Pahalgam region, which India has squarely blamed on Pakistan-based militants. PM Narendra Modi has pledged to bring those responsible to justice, declaring, “We will chase them to the ends of the earth.”
Pakistan has issued a warning of a “swift and notched-up response” to any potential Indian retaliation, further heightening regional tensions.
