A civil defence mock drill on a national level is scheduled for Wednesday, May 7 to be conducted over more than 250 districts in India on instructions of the Ministry of Home Affairs to Union territories and states to be ready for “hostile” attacks during the standoff with Pakistan following the recent Pahalgam terrorist attack where 26 were killed.
Terrorists believed to be Pakistan-based fired at Baisaran meadow close to the scenic Jammu and Kashmir town of Pahalgam on April 22 and slaughtered 26, with the majority of the victims being tourists.
India-Pakistan tensions have been increasing ever since. Although the nationwide mock drills are hypothetical, the sheer size of the operation has the potential to raise eyebrows among the public. Here’s a swift FAQ to demystify what to anticipate:
What is a Mock drill, what’s the purpose?
The mock drills are conducted to gauge India’s preparedness for emergency scenarios like air raids, blackouts, and evacuations. An official release states that “Civil Defence is regarded as an integral part of Nation’s Passive Defence plan. The administration of Civil Defence measures in the vulnerable zones is regulated under the provisions of Civil Defence Act, 1968.”.
An MHA notice noted that in today’s geo-political situation, fresh and unprecedented threats/challenges have arisen, therefore, it would be “wise that best Civil Defence readiness in the States/UTs is ensured at all times.”
Will schools, colleges, and banks open or not?
Yes. All schools, colleges, banks, government offices, etc., are expected to function as usual. The drill should be scheduled in a way that it does not create much of a disruption to daily routines.
Will there be blackouts or power cuts?
There can be simulated blackouts in some places, with voluntary lights-off participation as one of the important measures to be implemented during the mock drills is a ‘crash blackout’, which is an emergency shutdown of lighting and visible infrastructure aimed at minimizing targets’ visibility during possible air raids.
Blackouts are being introduced in case of air raids by hostile aircraft to avoid casualties and damage, and are meant to serve as a protection against surprise raids. Read more on crash blackouts here
What will take place during Mock drills?
Activities during the mock drills, according to the government notice, can be:
- Testing of Air Raid Warning Sirens
- Testing of Hotline/Radio Communication Links with the Indian Air Force.
- Hello Call and Manning of Control Rooms.Shadow Control Rooms
The Training involved:
- Training of civilians, students, etc, on the Civil Defence aspects to safeguard themselves in case of adversary attack.
- CW Call to activate Civil Defence Services, particularly, warden services, fire fighting, rescue service, depot, etc.
- Crash black out measures
- Provision for early camouflaging of important plants/installations
- CD Plan updation & its rehearsal
- Evacuation plan updation & its rehearsal
- Bunker and trench cleaning, etc.
Who takes part in the Drill?
The people who participate include Civil Defence volunteers, Home Guards, the National Cadet Corps (NCC), the National Service Scheme (NSS), the local police, and students. It is an inter-agency coordinated effort that may need to involve civilians too.
Should Citizens Worry?
No. It is a pre-scheduled exercise and not an emergency. People are requested to cooperate with the authorities and act in a composed manner if caught up in the process.
May 7 mock drills: Will mobile, internet services be disrupted?
Until now, no official news has come through suggesting that mobile internet services would be shut down during mock drills planned for May 7, in India. To receive the most precise and timely information about possible mobile internet shutdowns, it is better to follow official news from local government bodies or the Ministry of Home Affairs.
What is the purpose of the mock drills?
The main aims of the mock drill are as follows:
- To evaluate the efficiency of air raid warning systems.
- Implementation of hotline/radio communication channels with the Indian Air Force.
- To check the operational capability of control rooms and shadow control rooms.
Training of civilians, students, etc, on the civil defence side to safeguard themselves in case of hostile attack.
Supply of Crash Black Out Measures
- Provision for advance camouflaging of essential plants / installations to test the activation and response of civil defence services, including warden
- Services, firefighting, rescue operations, and depot control.
- To check the imposition of crash blackout measures.
- To test the readiness of evacuation plans and their implementation.
