Operation Sindoor: 29 flights cancelled at Bengaluru airport

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A total of 29 flights—15 arrivals and 14 departures—were cancelled at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), Bengaluru, on May 7, following India’s strikes on terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

According to airport sources, the cancellations included 10 arrivals and 9 departures by IndiGo, 3 arrivals and 3 departures by Air India Express, and 2 arrivals and 2 departures by Air India.

Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL) had earlier issued a warning about potential disruptions due to airspace restrictions. “Some flights are cancelled. Please check with your airline or their X (Twitter) page for updates,” BIAL posted on X, urging passengers to verify their flight status before heading to the airport.

Due to security and airspace restrictions, 25 major airports across India—including Chandigarh, Srinagar, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Bhuntar, Kishangarh, Patiala, Shimla, Gaggal, Bhatinda, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Halwara, Pathankot, Jammu, Leh, Mundra, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Porbandar, Kandla, Keshod, Bhuj, and Thoise—were shut by Wednesday evening. As per a NOTAM, these airports will remain closed for operations till 11:59pm. on May 9, 2025.

No citywide blackout

Meanwhile, Bengaluru City Police Commissioner B Dayananda clarified that no citywide blackout/mock drill was scheduled for the evening. “There is no citywide blackout mock drill in Bengaluru Wednesday evening. The demo is restricted only to the Fire and Emergency Services office campus in Ulsoor, where it will be held from 6:40pm to 7pm.,” he posted on X.

Separately, the Civil Defence team conducted the first mock drill under ‘Operation Abhyaas’ at its headquarters in Ulsoor. The drill included air raid siren activation, blackout procedures, search and rescue operations, casualty evacuation, temporary hospital setup, and civilian relocation to bunkers and demilitarised zones.

This mock drill is part of a nationwide emergency preparedness exercise, following directives from the Ministry of Home Affairs during a video conference on May 6. All 244 identified vulnerable districts are required to conduct similar drills. These districts are categorised into three levels based on vulnerability. In Karnataka, Mallapura (Karwar), Shaktinagara (Raichur), and Bengaluru have been classified as Category II Civil Defence Towns, according to a Union defence ministry notification. Similar drills are scheduled in Uttara Kannada, Raichur, Mysuru, and Mandya in the coming days.

Security at major railway stations

Meanwhile, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) of South Western Railway’s Bengaluru Division, along with the Government Railway Police, stepped up security at major stations as part of the nationwide emergency preparedness drill ordered by the Ministry of Railways.

The major stations—including KSR Bengaluru, Yeshwantpur, SMVT Bengaluru, and Cantonment—saw intensified checks at entry and exit points, enhanced CCTV surveillance, and random baggage screening. Quick reaction teams patrolled station premises, and mock threat scenarios were enacted to test coordination among security forces. Officials said the drill offered valuable insights into emergency response protocols without causing inconvenience to passengers.