Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India]: In preparation for nationwide mock drills scheduled for May 7, Dr PRS Chetan, Additional Chief Officer of Civil Defence and Commanding Officer of the Quick Response Team, stated that final instructions and drill locations in Bengaluru are still awaited.
“This morning, DGP and other senior officers attended a meeting convened by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)… our senior officers are also conducting internal meetings. MHA has instructed mock drills to be conducted. In Bengaluru, 32 locations are being considered, but we are still awaiting final directions. The drills will primarily be held in Bengaluru, Raichur, and Karwar,” Dr Chetan told ANI on Tuesday.
The Union Home Ministry has announced Civil Defence Exercises and Rehearsals across 244 designated Civil Defence districts in India on May 7. The move comes as a strategic boost to civil defence readiness amid ongoing tensions with Pakistan.
In a letter dated May 2 to the Chief Secretaries of all states and Union Territories, the Home Ministry outlined that the drills aim to assess and strengthen civil defence systems down to the village level. Key objectives include evaluating the effectiveness of air raid warning systems, establishing secure communication with the Indian Air Force, and testing control and shadow room functionality.
The drills will also train civilians—including students—in vital self-protection strategies during hostile attacks. Other key goals include camouflaging vital infrastructure, implementing crash blackout measures, and assessing emergency services like firefighting, rescue, evacuation planning, and depot management.
The announcement follows a terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22 that claimed 26 lives, intensifying the government’s focus on internal security preparedness. Authorities have vowed strict action against those responsible.