Temporary blackout struck the Barmer district of Rajasthan earlier in the day as part of a countrywide mock drill directed by the Indian government following the Pahalgam attack. The drill, which was carried out by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), sought to test the readiness of India’s infrastructure and emergency mechanisms.
#WATCH | Blackout in Barmer of Rajasthan, as part of the mock drill ordered by the MHA. pic.twitter.com/LGypTDQxqq
— ANI (@ANI) May 7, 2025
Purpose of the Mock Drill
The blackout, as inconvenient as it was, was a planned drill intended to mimic a mass power outage. Brief interruptions were felt by local citizens, but authorities assured the people that the drill was necessary in order to assess and enhance the response mechanisms of the country during crises.
Response to the Pahalgam Attack
The mock drill follows the Pahalgam attack, which put security on high alert, stressing the need for improved preparedness and higher inter-agency coordination. The MHA has been exercising the same across India to improve key sectors such as energy, telecommunications, and emergency services against possible interruptions, including natural disasters and cyber-attacks.
Enhancing Emergency Response Systems
MHA officials highlighted that the drills are vital to national security as they assist authorities in identifying any loopholes in the existing emergency response mechanisms and enhancing coordination. The drills, though inconvenient in the short run, are regarded as essential in guaranteeing that India’s infrastructure is not only strong but also capable of recovering rapidly from unexpected adversity.
Authorities confirmed that this exercise would be followed by more drills across the country, further solidifying the country’s preparedness to handle large-scale disruptions effectively.
Operation Sindoor: India’s Military Response to Pahalgam Attack
India, on May 7, 2025, carried out Operation Sindoor, a series of attacks by air targeting nine places in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. It was an instant retaliation to the April 22 Pahalgam attack when militants had killed 26 civilians, most of whom were Hindu tourists, in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir.
India’s Ministry of Home Affairs characterized the strikes as a measured response to destroy terrorist infrastructure associated with groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. The operation hit sites such as Bahawalpur, Muridke, and Muzaffarabad, which are thought to be centers of these groups.
