The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has directed all states to conduct mock drills on May 7 to test and strengthen civil defence mechanisms in the event of a hostile attack. The directions — issued amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam — are aimed at enhancing the preparedness of both civilian populations and administrative machinery.
According to government sources, the drills will include the operationalisation of air raid warning sirens and crash blackout measures in selected areas. The MHA has also instructed states to train civilians, including students, on safety protocols to follow during an aerial or ground assault. Other key measures include rehearsals of evacuation plans and early camouflaging of vital installations such as power plants and military-linked infrastructure.
The instructions were issued on Monday even as a series of high-level meetings continued in the national capital.
Defence Minister met his Japanese counterpart, General Nakatani San, while Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh held a meeting with Prime Minister , as India fine-tunes its retaliatory strategy against Pakistan in the wake of the Pahalgam attack.
During the bilateral meeting between Singh and Gen. San, both sides condemned terrorism in all its forms and emphasised the need for enhanced collaboration and joint efforts to counter cross-border threats.
According to a government statement, the defence minister condemned Pakistan’s state policy of cross-border terrorism against India, perpetrated through state and non-state actors. Stating that such attacks destabilise regional peace and security, he called for a unified global stand against terrorism and state-sponsored violence.
Sources said Singh also flagged Pakistan’s nuclear programme and cautioned Gen. San against investing in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, warning that such funds could be diverted to terror-linked activities.
Also on Monday, and is understood to have discussed critical policies and purchases concerning the Armed Forces, as the military establishment weighs various retaliatory options.
There was no official confirmation of the meeting. The defence secretary oversees the defence , key policy matters, and military acquisitions.
The two high-level meetings on Monday are part of a series of consultations held in the national capital over the last 12 days following the Pahalgam terror attack. Last week, separately to review the security situation and the preparedness of the forces.
Their meetings followed a larger gathering of the military brass at the PM’s residence on April 29, where Modi was quoted as saying the armed forces have “complete operational freedom to decide on the mode, targets and timing of our response” to the Pahalgam attack.
Prior to this, Manral had extensively reported on city-based crime stories along with that he also covered the anti-corruption branch of the Delhi government for a decade. He is known for his knack for News and a detailed understanding of stories. He also worked with Mail Today as a senior correspondent for eleven months. He has also worked with The Pioneer for two years where he was exclusively covering crime beat.
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