Hours after Operation Sindoor, where India struck nine Pakistani sites that were being used by terrorists, India is witnessing nationwide civil defence preparedness exercises today. The drills are spanning across 244 districts.
These exercises, termed ‘Operation Abhyas’, are being conducted across the nation following the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir on April 22nd, which resulted in the loss of 26 lives and triggered increased security vigilance nationwide.
Directives have been issued to state governments and Union Territories to activate air raid sirens, enforce blackout procedures in specified zones, and instruct the public, including students, on essential safety actions during potential air or ground-based attacks. State officials have indicated that volunteers from the National Cadet Corps (NCC), National Service Scheme (NSS), and Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), along with students from schools and colleges, will be involved in these simulated drills.
These 244 districts are categorized into three groups based on the required level of civil defense program implementation. Category I districts necessitate the full execution of civil defense programs, while Category II and Category III districts require partial implementation at different scales.
Mock Drill Live updates: Statue of Unity shrouded in darkness amid blackout | Video
Mock Drill Live updates: Police vans patrol north Kashmir, people asked to observe blackout
According to reports police vans patrolled the streets of north Kashmir on Wednesday evening following Operation Sindoor. Officials asked locals to observe a blackout drill --- particularly in Baramulla and Kupwara districts.
Mock Drill Live updates: Blackout in Gujarat's Bhuj
Visuals shared online showed vehicles travelling through darkened streets in the Bhuj area of Gujarat amid a blackout drill on Wednesday.
Mock Drill Live updates: Blackout in Chandigarh | Video
Mock Drill Live updates: Where did blackouts take place in Delhi?
Several iconic markets and public spaces — Connaught Place, Khan Market and Town Hall in Chandni Chowk — went dark, briefly halting activity in areas usually lit up late into the night. The visual impact was stark, drawing the attention of residents and tourists alike.
Officials in Central Delhi confirmed that blackouts were executed at five major locations, including Wazirabad, Chandni Chowk and the Civic Centre. Parts of Karol Bagh and Prasad Nagar also participated in the drill.
In North West Delhi, officials said blackouts occurred at five identified spots, with a clear directive to avoid disruption to emergency services.
According to officials, in southeast Delhi, the blackout was also observed at a government school in Madan Kahadar and DLF King's Court apartments in Greater Kailash.
East Delhi authorities noted that due to rainfall and the presence of essential service providers, a complete blackout was not feasible. However, selected areas did take part to ensure symbolic participation in the nationwide exercise.
Mock Drill Live updates: Madhya Pradesh: Drones visuals show moment of blackout in Bhopal
Mock Drill Live updates: Amritsar to conduct blackout exercise from 10:30 pm
"Mock drill will be carried out in two ways. A siren will be heard at 4 pm, which will be for a simulation exercise... This will broadly be a practice drill. The second drill will be carried out at 10:30 pm, wherein another siren will be heard. There will be a blackout at that time. It is requested that everyone keep their lights off at that time... Power will be normally restored shortly after," said Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar Sakshi Sahni.
Mock Drill Live updates: BARC complex in Mumbai conducts blackout
Blackout conducted at 8 PM in Bhabha Atomic Research Centre's residential complex in Anushakti Nagar as part of mock drill: Police.
Mock Drill Live updates: Lights turn back on at Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple in Delhi | WATCH
Mock Drill Live updates: Blackout in Rajasthan's Barmer
Visuals shared online showed Barmer in Rajasthan plunged into darkness around 8:30 pm amid blackout drills.
Mock Drill Live updates: Several parts of Delhi see blackout
West Kidwai Nagar and parts of South Delhi aexperience blackouts as part of a planned drill.d the NDMC and RBI buildings witnessed evacuation drills, rescue simulations, and first aid demonstrations.
West Kidwai Nagar and parts of South Delhi also experienced a 15 minute blackout from 8:00 pm. Electricity was gradually restored to the affected areas after the drill concluded.
Mock Drill Live updates: Delhi sees lights gradually turn back on
Visuals shared online showed Lutyens' Delhi plunged into darkness for about 15 minutes on Wednesday. A clip shared by ANI showed lights turning back on gradually at Vijay Chowk in Delhi following the blackout.
Mock Drill Live updates: Gujarat asks citizens to cover windows, turn off lights, and...
Citizens were advised to cover windows with thick curtains, turn off all lights, and avoid using mobile phones or other light-emitting devices near windows during the alert.
Mock Drill Live updates: Blackout at Connaught Place in Delhi | Video
Mock Drill Live updates: Blackout in Moti Nagar area of Delhi | Video
Mock Drill Live updates: 'No blackout in residential areas of Noida'
Officials said the scheduled blackout will not happen in any residential areas in Gautam Buddh Nagar. District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma said authorities had identfied certain factories and other similar areas where blackout would be observed.
Mock Drill Live updates: Lights shut at India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhawan
Lights shut at India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhawan as Delhi observes 15 minute blackout drill from 8:00 pm
Mock Drill Live updates: Blackout in Khan Market area of Delhi | Video
Blackout drills were initiated in various parts of Delhi and Mumbai at 8:00 pm.
The New Delhi Municipal Council had announced earlier in the day that there would be a power blackout from 8:00 pm to 8:15 pm across Lutyens' Delhi on Wednesday. The blackout drill will not involve hospitals, dispensaries, Rashtrapati Bhawan, PMO, metro stations and other important establishments, an official said.
Reports indicated that parts of Mumbai would also experience blackouts from 8:00 pm. These areas will be affected: Anushakti Nagar, Govandi and Atomic colony, Tarapur.
EditDelete
Visuals shared online showed cities across the country dimming their lights as sirens blared on Wednesday evening. Videos emerging from Surat and Gwalior showed a darkened landscape around 7:45 pm.
Mock Drill Live updates: Gurugram to see 'full-night blackout'
According to reports, Gurugram will undergo a full-night blackout as a part of the mock drill exercise on Wednesday.
Haryana has been conducting 'Operation Abhyas' across all 22 districts of Haryana since 4:00 pm. The general public have been requested to switch off all lights in their homes from 7:50 pm to 8:00 pm as a part of the drill.
Additional Chief Secretary Sumita Misra said that a blackout drill will be conducted across the state from 7.50 pm to 8 pm, during which the general public is advised to stay indoors and away from windows.
"If you are driving, then park your vehicle on the side and turn off the lights. Stay wherever you are and do not move here and there. Turn off all indoor and outdoor lights during alerts, including disconnecting the inverter or alternative power supply," she said.
She also noted that evacuation, fire safety exercises and implementation of the Air Raid Warning System will also be ensured during Operation Abhyas.
Mock Drill Live updates: Blackout in Shimla | Video
Mock Drill Live updates: Bareilly to see district-wide blackout from 8:00 pm
Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh will reportedly observe a district-wide blackout from 8:00 pm to 8:10 pm on Wednesday. DM Avinash Singh urged residents to turn off lights and inverters during this time and also avoid using their phones or flashlights.
A blackout exercise just took took place at the the popular Select City Walk mall in Saket. Parts of Delhi are slated to go dark for 15 minutes starting 8:00 pm.
Blackout in parts of Noida, Guwahati, Vishakhapatnam
Brief blackouts began in parts of Noida in Uttar Pradesh and Guwahati in Assam at 7:00 pm. Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh also shut power around the same time for mock drills.
Mock Drill Live updates: Drill underway at Bathinda railway station | Video
Mock Drill Live updates: Rashtrapati Bhawan, PM residence other sites exempted from Delhi blackout
According to reports, some areas will be exempted from the 8:00 pm blackout in Delhi. The Rashtrapati Bhawan, PM residence and hospitals ICUs will be exempted from the drill. Switchyards will be used to cut the power supply of the entire NDMC area, which includes Connaught Place and Lutyens.
Mock Drill Live updates: Mock drills conducted across Hyderabad to test emergency preparedness
Rescue personnel evacuated people and shifted the 'injured' in civil defence mock drills involving the police, fire services, and disaster response forces in four locations in the city on Wednesday. The drills were carried out in Secunderabad, Golkonda, Kanchan Bagh, and the Nacharam NFC area.
Sirens were activated at 4 pm within the Outer Ring Road (ORR), signalling the start of the drill. Citizens were instructed to stay indoors, seek shelter, and take cover. Rescue personnel evacuated people from buildings using ropes, provided medical aid, and shifted the 'injured' during the operations. Sirens were sounded again at 4:30 pm to mark the end of the drills. Senior police officials monitored the mock drills from the Integrated Command and Control Centre. Authorities had earlier informed the public not to panic, clarifying that it was a safety preparedness exercise.
Mock Drill Live updates: Siren blare at Cross Maidan in Mumbai
At 4 PM, a siren blared at Cross Maidan in south Mumbai amid heavy rain, setting off a flurry of activity as part of a mock drill simulating an air strike, and teams of civil defence, fire brigade, and paramedics rushing to save the "injured".
Organised under Operation Abhyas, the exercise involved coordinated efforts from multiple emergency response teams.
The mock drill began with the sound of a siren, signalling a simulated bombardment on a building. Three explosions were depicted, leading to a fire.
Volunteers present at the site took shelter in a nearby safe zone and were instructed to remain there until the Civil Defence issued an all-clear signal. Alert Civil Defence volunteers, upon hearing the sirens, rushed to the scene and immediately began rescue operations.
Parts of Mumbai to experience blackout from 8:00 pm. These areas will be affected: Anushakti Nagar, Govandi and Atomic colony, Tarapur.