India gets battle ready: Air raids, blackouts and evacuations - How states are preparing for May 7 mega drills

The mock drills also include the operationalisation of hotline and radio-communication links with the Indian Air Force

Several states have begun preparations as part of the civil defence drills directed by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Visuals from states including Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra show various types of drills being conducted, including responses to air raids and mock fire drills—aimed at testing and enhancing civil preparedness in the event of an enemy attack.

In Jammu and Kashmir, school students are being trained to respond effectively to air raids. Visuals show students being taught to take shelter under their desks upon hearing air raid sirens.

Agencies across states have sprung into action after the Amit Shah-led home ministry announced the nationwide mock drill in an announcement on Monday. The May 7 mock drills will see blackouts, evacuations and other such measures to test the readiness.

Sources said the 'civil defence districts' are different from the normal administrative district, as a geographical area having a cantonment or a refinery or a nuclear plant may be designated as a 'civil defence district' depending on the requirement and exigency.

"Such districts are designated by the respective state authorities, and we believe, the mock drills will be carried out in nearly 300 such civil defence districts across the country," they said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to pursue the perpetrators of the attack and those who took part in its conspiracy to the "ends of the earth" to inflict punishment on them "beyond their imagination".

(With agency inputs)