Amritsar (Punjab) [India]: In a major nationwide civil defence exercise, blackout drills were enforced in Amritsar and across several key Indian cities to test public safety readiness in the face of external threats. The drills were carried out as part of an initiative by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), amid heightened security concerns following Operation Sindoor launched by the Indian Armed Forces.
The District Public Relations Officer (DPRO) of Amritsar confirmed the blackout, advising residents to stay indoors, remain calm, and switch off all exterior lighting.
“Taking utmost caution, the Amritsar district administration has again started the blackout process… do not panic and do not gather outside your houses,” the DPRO said.
According to ASI Jagtar Singh, the blackout in Amritsar lasted for half an hour between 10:30 pm and 11:00 pm.
“The directions are that there should not be any lights on so the enemy may not know there is a city here,” he said, highlighting the defensive simulation intent behind the exercise.
Blackout protocols were similarly implemented in several other Indian states and cities, including:
- Rajasthan (Barmer)
- Madhya Pradesh (Gwalior)
- Gujarat (Surat)
- Himachal Pradesh (Shimla)
- Bihar (Patna)
- Delhi, where Rashtrapati Bhavan and Vijay Chowk were also darkened for the drill.
Major metros like Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, and Jaipur also observed full-scale civil defence mock drills, testing coordination between local authorities, emergency services, and the general public.
The blackout comes in the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 civilians, including a Nepali national. In retaliation, India launched Operation Sindoor targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoJK—raising the need for domestic preparedness against any escalation.
The MHA-led drill is being seen as a precautionary measure to simulate wartime or emergency conditions and strengthen national civil defence protocols.