A nationwide civil defense mock drill will be conducted across 244 districts as directed by Union Minister of Home. Sirens will play loud, power will be cut, and people will simulate taking cover in response. This marks the first time since the 1971 war that citizens will be trained in how to protect themselves during an attack.
A high-level meeting was held at the Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday, May 6, to review preparations. The meeting was attended by Chief Secretaries of states, Civil Defense Chiefs, and several other senior officials.
In this EBNW Story, we’ll look at when this civil defense mock drill was done earlier
When did the Government of India conducted civil defense mock drills in the past?
Answer: India has fought a total of five wars with China and Pakistan. During the 1962 India-China war and the 1965 and 1971 India-Pakistan wars, the Government of India conducted civil defense mock drills.
During the 1971 war, sirens were sounded and blackouts were implemented as part of the drills to simulate air raids. Citizens were trained on how to protect themselves during aerial attacks. People were instructed to cover their windows with paper, and those who were outside during siren alerts were required to lie flat on the ground and cover their ears.
In 1999, although India and Pakistan engaged in the Kargil conflict, no civil defense mock drills were conducted in preparation. Even in later instances of heightened tensions between the two nations, such drills were not carried out. Therefore, this marks the first time since 1971 that India is conducting a civil defense mock drill.
Do other countries also conduct such mock drills?
Answer: Yes, in anticipation of potential war, several countries conduct similar civil defense mock drills to prepare their citizens for enemy attacks.
Since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in February 2022, Ukraine has conducted multiple civil defense drills to ensure public preparedness. Similarly, Israel has organized drills to train its citizens on how to respond to attacks from Hamas.