In the wake of Operation Sindoor—India’s swift counterstrike on terror camps in Pakistan—several Indian states conducted mock drills on Wednesday, including blackouts, air raid sirens, emergency evacuations, and more. These drills were part of a Ministry of Home Affairs directive to test the country’s wartime preparedness amid heightened tensions with Pakistan.
Blackouts in Key Areas Across India
Several metro cities and state capitals experienced planned blackouts:
- Delhi: From 8 to 8:15 pm, areas like India Gate, Connaught Place, Rashtrapati Bhawan, Supreme Court, and Parliament House went dark. Critical infrastructure like ICUs, metro stations, and PM Modi’s residence were exempt.
- Mumbai: Power was cut at 8 pm in Anushakti Nagar, Govandi, and Atomic Colony.
- Patna: Blackouts included Raj Bhavan and the Chief Minister’s residence.
- Shimla: Blackout began around 7:30 pm after sirens.
- Madhya Pradesh: Cities like Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior, and Katni went dark between 7:30–7:42 pm. CM Mohan Yadav monitored the drill via video conference.
- Gurugram, Haryana: Underwent a full-night blackout as per orders from the Deputy Commissioner.
- Uttar Pradesh: Areas like Noida, Ghaziabad, and Bareilly were darkened. CM Yogi Adityanath personally supervised a drill in Lucknow.
- Gujarat: Blackouts were seen in Ahmedabad, Surat, and Kevadia, where the Statue of Unity also went dark.
- Andhra Pradesh: Visakhapatnam’s Kotha Jalaripeta and Oxygen Towers experienced blackouts after sirens.
- Tripura: Lights were switched off in key areas from 5:30 to 5:40 pm, preceded by sirens.
- Punjab: Amritsar and Mohali saw scheduled blackouts. In Chandigarh, malls also joined the exercise.
Sirens, Evacuations, and Emergency Protocols
Alongside blackouts, air raid sirens were heard across cities, signaling residents to evacuate or take cover. Emergency services including fire brigades, police, and medical teams were put to the test.
Message of Preparedness
These drills send a strong signal of India’s readiness to face any contingency amid cross-border threats. Officials noted that such exercises help improve coordination between civil authorities, armed forces, and citizens during emergencies.
