The Union Home Ministry has directed several states to conduct civilian mock drills on May 7 to prepare for potential ‘hostile attacks’, according to official sources. The drills will include the activation of air raid sirens, civil defence training for civilians and students, implementation of crash blackout procedures, and early-stage camouflaging of critical infrastructure. Updated evacuation plans will also be rehearsed to ensure swift and coordinated emergency responses.
The directive comes in the wake of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where at least 25 tourists and a local resident were killed.
The drills will involve activating air raid warning sirens and implementing blackout measures in specific areas. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has also directed states to train civilians, including students, on the safety protocols to follow during aerial or ground assaults. According to government sources, key measures will include rehearsals for evacuation plans and the early camouflaging of essential installations, such as power plants and military-related infrastructure.
High-Level Meetings Continue in Delhi as India Weighs Response to Pahalgam Attack
The Union government’s directive for civilian mock drills on May 7 comes amid a flurry of high-level meetings in the national capital as India sharpens its strategic response to the Pahalgam terror attack.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met with his Japanese counterpart, General Nakatani San, on Monday, while Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh held separate talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. These meetings are part of India’s broader effort to coordinate diplomatic outreach and military planning in response to the April 22 attack.
During the bilateral meeting, Singh and Gen. San strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and underscored the importance of enhanced cooperation to counter cross-border threats. According to sources, Singh also raised concerns over Pakistan’s nuclear programme and cautioned Japan against investing in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, warning that such investments could be misused to fund terror-linked activities.
Meanwhile, Defence Secretary Singh is understood to have discussed key military acquisitions and policy priorities with the Prime Minister, though there was no official confirmation of the meeting. As the top bureaucrat in the Ministry of Defence, Singh oversees the defence budget and plays a central role in shaping India’s military posture.
These two meetings are part of a series of high-level consultations held over the past 12 days. Last week, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi and Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh met the Prime Minister separately to assess the evolving security scenario and the armed forces’ readiness.
Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated since New Delhi blamed Islamabad for the Pahalgam attack. Prime Minister Modi has vowed to punish those responsible “beyond their imagination.” Pakistan, while denying any role in the incident, has warned of retaliation if India launches a military strike.
Team BharatShakti
