Union Home Secretary reviews nationwide civil defence drill preparations amid India-Pakistan tensions

A high-level meeting convened by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan on Tuesday reviewed preparations for a nationwide Civil Defence Exercise scheduled for May 7, amid rising tensions with Pakistan following the recent Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 civilians dead.

The meeting, held via video conferencing at 10:45am, brought together Chief Secretaries and heads of Civil Defence from across all states and Union Territories. The focus was to assess readiness and ensure coordinated execution of the mock drills across 244 Civil Defence-designated districts, including rural and village-level areas.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had earlier, on May 5, issued a formal communication to all states regarding the drills, highlighting their importance in strengthening national preparedness for emergencies, especially in light of current geopolitical tensions.

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The exercise is designed to evaluate multiple components of civil defence, including:

• Functionality of air raid warning systems
• Activation of hotlines and radio communication links with the Indian Air Force
• Performance of control rooms and shadow rooms
• Implementation of crash blackout measures
• Training civilians, including students, on protective protocols during hostile attacks
• Camouflaging vital installations
• Response efficiency of Civil Defence Services such as wardens, firefighters, rescue teams, and depot staff
• Evacuation preparedness and execution of emergency plans

In addition, on May 2, the MHA had reached out to Chief Secretaries of all states and Union Territories, stressing the need for peace-time civil defence preparedness, particularly in 295 towns and districts identified as vulnerable.

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This large-scale mobilisation comes amid heightened security concerns following the April 22 terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir’s Pahalgam, where 26 tourists were killed. Indian authorities have linked the attack to five terrorists, including three Pakistani nationals, further escalating diplomatic tensions with Islamabad.

The upcoming drills mark one of the most extensive civil defence initiatives in recent years, aiming to reinforce India's readiness in the face of potential threats.

(With inputs from ANI)