Border States on Alert as India Plans Mock Drill Amid Rising Tensions with Pakistan
Amid escalating tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad, India will conduct a large-scale mock drill on Thursday evening in the four states bordering Pakistan — Gujarat, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Jammu and Kashmir. These states recently faced heavy cross-border attacks during a four-day conflict that has heightened security concerns across the region.
The drill aims to evaluate the preparedness of India’s civil defence and emergency response systems. Residents in the affected areas have been asked to remain alert and cooperate with authorities during the exercise.
The primary objective of the mock drill is to test the operational efficiency of control rooms and the functionality of air raid warning systems. It will also assess the readiness of civil defence services, including firefighting units, rescue and evacuation teams, warden services, and depot management. The drill will simulate emergency scenarios, allowing local authorities and the public to rehearse rapid response protocols in case of future attacks.
This mock drill follows Operation Abhyas — a nationwide emergency preparedness exercise — conducted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on May 7. The operation took place just hours before the launch of India’s Operation Sindoor, a swift and coordinated military response to Pakistani incursions.
During Operation Abhyas, air raid sirens were tested in urban and rural areas, and civilians, including school students, were given detailed briefings on how to protect themselves during attacks. These exercises marked the first coordinated national drills of such scale since the 1971 war with Pakistan, covering 250 locations across 33 states and union territories.
The decision to conduct another drill comes after a series of attempted air strikes by Pakistan, all of which were successfully intercepted. In response to these threats, 32 airports across northern and northwestern India were temporarily shut down as a precautionary measure.
Punjab, which shares a 532-kilometre border with Pakistan, had placed all its border districts on high alert during Operation Sindoor. Authorities cancelled public gatherings and ordered the shutdown of schools in districts including Ferozepur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, and Tarn Taran.
In Rajasthan, which shares the longest international border with Pakistan at 1,037 kilometres, similar steps were taken. All government and private schools in the border areas were closed, and local authorities intensified surveillance and coordination with defence forces.
With tensions still simmering and both nations maintaining a strong military presence along the Line of Control and the international border, Thursday’s drill is seen as a critical step in reinforcing India’s civilian and defence readiness. Authorities have urged the public to treat the drill seriously and cooperate fully with instructions issued by local administrations.
IT.
