In response to heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following the April Pahalgam terror attack, the Union Home Ministry has directed several states to conduct civil defence drills on May 7.
The drills will feature air raid warning sirens and provide training for civilians and students in civil defence measures to ensure their safety during a potential attack.
Measures will also be taken to quickly shut off lights and power during emergencies and to camouflage or hide important buildings and installations.
A total of 244 civil districts are taking part in the mock drill, as per the reports.
Reports suggest that the Union Home Secretary will chair a meeting on Tuesday to review preparations for the nationwide mock drill, with Chief Secretaries from most states and Union Territories attending via video conference.
Senior officials from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Railway Board, and Air Defence will also join the meeting.
What did the MHA Order say?
The MHA has asked all the states to conduct mock drills on May 7. The measures to be taken during the drill include operationalisation of air raid warning sirens and training of civilians on civil defence aspects to protect themselves in the event of a "hostile attack", government sources said.
"A meeting is likely to be held on May 6 with fire, police and other departments," sources told PTI.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been holding a series of high-level meetings, including with top defence functionaries, as India weighs its options for countermeasures against the April 22 terror attack which left 26 civilians, mostly tourists, dead.
Modi has vowed to pursue the perpetrators and those part of the conspiracy to the "ends of the earth" to inflict punishment on them "beyond their imagination".
