New Delhi: Three north Indian states—Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan—will conduct state-wide mock drills on Saturday as part of the national-level emergency preparedness initiative titled “Operation Shield.” This follows a similar exercise held on May 7, launched in the wake of heightened India-Pakistan tensions after the recent terror attack in Pahalgam.
The latest round of drills was announced after the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a directive to strengthen civil defence mechanisms in states and Union Territories sharing borders with Pakistan. While an earlier round of Operation Shield exercises was initially planned for Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir, it was deferred due to administrative constraints. Now, the drills are set to proceed with full force across the participating states.
Punjab: Blackouts, air raid sirens in civilian zones
A spokesperson for the Punjab government said that the mock drill would involve complete blackouts in areas identified as civilian-vulnerable and at sensitive points. Emergency and critical services will remain functional, while air raid sirens will be used during the exercise. The official also confirmed that this civil defence exercise is being carried out under the authority of Section 19 of the Civil Defence Rules, 1968, in coordination with the central government.
Haryana: Simulated wartime situations in all 22 districts
Haryana officials announced that mock drills will be conducted across all 22 districts starting at 5 PM. These drills aim to test and improve the state’s readiness in the face of emergencies such as air strikes and drone attacks. As part of the simulation, a 15-minute controlled blackout will take place from 8 PM to 8:15 PM around critical infrastructure, exempting essential services like hospitals, police stations, and fire departments.
Rajasthan: State-wide drill across 41 districts
According to sources cited by ANI, Rajasthan will also participate in the national exercise, conducting drills and blackout operations in all 41 districts of the state. These drills are part of a broader effort to test preparedness and improve coordination among civil defence forces along India’s western border.
“Operation Shield” is part of a series of exercises designed to strengthen India’s response capabilities in the event of wartime scenarios or cross-border threats.
