Indo-Pak Tensions: Air Sirens, Blackouts, Evacuation | Mock Drill Activities At Border Regions

Indians have become familiar with the term 'mock drills' in recent times in view of the heightened border tensions between India and Pakistan following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack which killed 26 civilians and triggered a large-scale military standoff between the two nations.

On May 7, following the Ministry of Home Affairs' (MHA) instruction, extensive nationwide mock drills were conducted amid intensifying tensions with Pakistan.

Although the tensions between the two neighbouring nations eased after the US-brokered ceasefire on May 10, to further check the security preparedness for any emergency escalatory situation, Centre again directed Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Punjab to conduct a fresh round of civil defence mock drills on Thursday. However, the Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan authorities have postponed the scheduled drills on Wednesday evening.

What Is A Mock Drill?

A civil defence mock drill is defined as an exercise to evaluate day-to-day preparedness of the civilians and government in context of responding to intense circumstances such as wars, missile strikes or aerial bombardments as readiness amongst the civilians is often instrumental in minimise confusion and panic.

Mock drills invoke civil defence mechanisms under Section 19 of the Civil Defence Rules, 1968, of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

The primary objective of the exercise is to impart civilians a functional knowledge and training to protect themselves and the others in case of an attack by an adversary. Based on the threat perception, all the civil defence districts are categorised in three categories.

While Centre has placed Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Surat and Vadodara and other places among the 12 civil defence districts in category 1, which are likely to face higher risk, around 200 less vulnerable districts such as Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Jamnagar and North Goa are placed under category 2. There are 42 like districts, including Aurangabad, and Ratnagiri, which come under category 3.

Why Border States Are On Alert?

In view of the renewed border tension between the arch rivals India and Pakistan, Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory (UT) and the border states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab are always on high alert anticipating escalatory movements from the other side of the border.

The tension heightened following the Pahalgam terror attack which prompted India to respond with its precise military strike 'Operation Sindoor' targeting the crucial terror bases of Pakistan on May 7.

Pakistan then resorted to further escalations by launching more missile attacks and gunfights at the border regions as India's precise and successful response didn't sit well with them.

What All Are Done During The Drills?

The key activities of a mock drill primarily encompass the starting of air raid sirens, city blackout, sheltering of civilians, the execution of emergency team activities, and other activities which are done in real time.

It often includes testing the functionality of public warning systems like air raid sirens, telephone links and radio communication with the Indian Airforce (IAF).

Officials also set up and check the control and shadow rooms for uninterrupted emergency coordination.

Training of civilians to carefully respond under stressful situations is one of the key aspects of the civil defence activities alongside imposing crash blackouts for power disobedience during emergency scenarios.

Evacuation plans are also rehearsed to ascertain how well they can be are implemented on real time.

What Are Blackouts?

Blackouts are one of the passive defensive mechanisms implemented during air strikes or air raids by enemy aircraft which helps in minimising casualties and damages by turning off all the visible lights and making the target areas invisible.

According to a , blackouts make locking ground targets difficult even for advanced high-speed aircraft. "The anxiety level of the enemy pilot in the cockpit would be more if the area is dark," it says.

The document also highlights that the objective is to ensure that "no light shall be visible at a height of 5,000 ft above ground level under normal visibility conditions."

Following the standard modus operandi, lighting restrictions must be implemented gradually and not all at once. These curbs would apply to street lights, factories and also lights from vehicles.

According to the draft order, a blackout "is intended to enable the people to protect themselves and their towns from enemy aircraft at night, without incurring the discomfort of total darkness".