Several important officials, including the Director General of Civil Defence and the Director General of the National Disaster Response Force, met with Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan to discuss mock drills planned for May 7. This meeting comes after a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which left 26 people dead, mostly tourists.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has asked all states to perform mock drills to prepare for new and complex threats. During these drills, they will practice sounding air-raid sirens, training civilians on how to protect themselves during an attack, and cleaning emergency bunkers and trenches.
The drills will help authorities learn how to respond quickly to emergencies, like power outages after an attack, hiding important facilities from view, and making sure everyone knows how to evacuate safely. They will also check communication systems with the Indian Air Force and test control rooms.
Officials will run these rehearsals in 244 districts across the country, reaching all the way down to village levels. The goal is to ensure that civil defence plans are ready and effective, especially given recent tensions with Pakistan.
India has taken steps against Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack, including stopping water from flowing to Pakistan through the Chenab River. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised to go after those responsible for the attack with all his might. In response, Pakistan has suggested joining an independent investigation into the event.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that it’s important to respond strongly to those behind the attack.
Leave a Reply