Civil defence mock drills tomorrow: Four times India heard air raid sirens before May 7

With tensions simmering along the India-Pakistan border following the Pahalgam terror attack, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has announced nationwide civil defence mock drills on May 7, covering 244 districts. As part of the drill, air raid sirens will be activated, a rare but symbolic gesture meant to enhance preparedness for hostile aerial threats.

While such warnings are largely unfamiliar to most Indians today, air raid sirens were once a chillingly familiar sound during some of the country's most turbulent periods. Here’s a look back at the four major times in history when these sirens became part of the national consciousness:

The 1962 Sino-Indian War

India’s first experience with air raid sirens came during the Sino-Indian War of 1962, particularly in the eastern sector. Although the People's Liberation Army (PLA) primarily fought ground battles, fears of Chinese air strikes prompted civil defence authorities to prepare Indian cities for possible aerial bombardment. Sirens were sounded in sensitive areas like Tezpur, Tawang, and even as far as Calcutta.

The 1965 India-Pakistan War

Air raid sirens became more systematic during the 1965 war with Pakistan. This time, India faced real air attacks, particularly in Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, and Delhi. The Pakistani Air Force (PAF) conducted several sorties on Indian airbases and railway junctions. In response, Indian authorities initiated city-wide blackouts and installed sirens in key locations.

The 1971 Indo-Pak War

The use of air raid sirens peaked during the 1971 Indo-Pak war, especially after Operation Chengiz Khan — Pakistan’s pre-emptive air strike on December 3 targeting Indian airbases. From Amritsar to Agartala, sirens were triggered repeatedly to signal air strikes. Cities like Jodhpur, Pathankot, and Jamnagar—which were targeted—relied on sirens to send people into trenches and bunkers. For nearly two weeks, India’s urban centres lived in fear of sudden air attacks. The sirens served as lifelines for civilians to seek shelter in time.

The 1999 Kargil War

Though primarily a high-altitude conflict, the Kargil War saw limited use of air raid sirens in border towns like Leh and Kargil, particularly when Pakistani artillery shelled civilian zones or when the IAF launched air strikes. The Indian government did not officially activate mass-scale sirens in metros, but localised alerts and emergency sirens were used to caution residents of impending shelling or air activity.

Reviving a Forgotten Warning System

The May 7, 2025 civil defence drills, with the reactivation of air raid sirens, serve not just as a warning mechanism but also a stark reminder of India’s geopolitical vulnerability. While today's threats are far more sophisticated—ranging from drones to ballistic missiles—the humble air raid siren remains a potent symbol of emergency readiness and civilian defence.