Civil Defence mock drills will be conducted across 244 districts in India on 7 May 2025 to enhance emergency preparedness amid rising India–Pakistan tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack.
Vivek Srivastava, director general of fire services, civil defence and Home Guards, reassured the public that the exercise is a preparatory measure and urged cooperation with volunteers. In an exclusive interview with Akashvani News, he emphasised that the drill aims to equip citizens to face potential external threats.
The Delhi Directorate of Education has directed all school principals to organise disaster-response training sessions for students and teachers on 7 May. As part of the nationwide mega mock drill, Delhi authorities will execute ‘Operation Abhyaas’ at 55 locations across the city’s 11 districts, simulating emergencies such as air raids, fires and evacuations.
The Civil Defence exercise on 7 May 2025 will involve district controllers, various district officials, civil defence wardens and volunteers, Home Guards, National Cadet Corps (NCC), National Service Scheme (NSS), Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) members and students from schools and colleges across India’s 244 designated districts.
State-Wise Drills
In the border state of Punjab, mock drills will be conducted in 20 districts, including Amritsar, Ferozepur, Gurdaspur, Pathankot and Tarn Taran, to enhance public awareness and implement essential safety measures in preparation for potential hostile attacks. Schools in border towns such as Amritsar, Fazilka, Ferozepur, Gurdaspur and Pathankot have been temporarily closed to ensure student safety amid heightened India–Pakistan tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor.
In Maharashtra, civil defence mock drills will take place at 16 locations across 10 districts on 7 May 2025, as directed by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The exercise will cover Mumbai, Uran, Tarapur, Thane, Pune, Nashik, Roha-Dhatav-Nagothane, Manmad, Sinnar, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Bhusawal, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg and Thal-Vaishet. Key sites include Tarapur, home to the Tarapur Atomic Power Station, the Roha-Dhatav-Nagothane industrial belt and Uran, which hosts the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT).
In Telangana, the civil defence mock drill codenamed ‘Operation Abhyaas’ will be held at four locations along Hyderabad’s Outer Ring Road—Secunderabad and Golkonda cantonments, Kanchan Bagh and Nacharam. Scheduled from 4.00 pm to 4.30 pm on 7 May 2025, the exercise will simulate an air raid to evaluate the preparedness of civil defence services, including police, fire, rescue, medical and municipal departments, as well as public response.
In Madhya Pradesh, civil defence mock drills will be conducted on 7 May 2025 across five districts—Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior, Jabalpur and Katni—as part of the nationwide exercise to enhance emergency preparedness amid heightened India–Pakistan tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor.
In Gujarat, civil defence mock drills will take place in 18 districts on 7 May 2025, including Vadodara, Surat, Tapi, Patan, Banaskantha, Ahmedabad, Dwarka, Kutch and Bharuch. The drills will begin at 4.00 pm with air-raid sirens and involve district administrations, civil defence wardens, Home Guards and volunteers, followed by a blackout exercise from 7.30 pm to 8.00 pm to simulate wartime conditions.
