Indian Govt. Conducting Mock Drills in Several States to Prepare Civilians
Dubela, Jit Roy: In response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which left 26 civilians dead, the Indian government has directed several states to conduct security mock drills on Wednesday, May 7. The last mock drill was conducted in 1971 during the India-Pakistan war. This mock drill is an exercise of surviving an emergency situation and responding effectively during real-life incidents.
1. The ministry of Home Affairs has asked states to take the following measures:
2. Operationalization of Air Raid Warning
3. Training of civilians, students, on the civil defense aspects to protect themselves in the event of a hostile attack.
4. Provision of crash black out measures
5. Provision for early camouflaging of vital plants/installations
6. Updation of evacuation plan and its rehearsal
In Punjab’s Ferozepur, a blackout drill was carried out on Sunday, with power cut from 9 to 9:30 pm in the cantonment area to simulate wartime conditions. Tensions are rising along the Line of Control, where Pakistani forces have continued firing on Indian soldiers for 11 consecutive nights. India has responded militarily and diplomatically. In a significant step, India has suspended the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty and reduced Pakistan’s diplomatic presence – something not done during previous wars.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a series of meetings with top defense officials, including the chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force. He assured that those responsible for the Pahalgam attack will be severely punished. Pakistan had warned that stopping the flow of water could be seen as an act of war and had threatened to suspend all bilateral agreements, including the Shimla Agreement, expressing concern over the situation along the Line of Control.
