CHANDIGARH: The Haryana Government is set to conduct a major state-wide Civil Defence exercise, named “Operation Shield,” on Thursday (May 29) across all 22 districts to enhance the state’s emergency preparedness and response capabilities.
A 15-minute blackout will be observed from 8 PM to 8:15 PM near vital installations. Civil defence mock drills are also likely to take place in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Jammu and Kashmir.
Meanwhile, Punjab has written to the Centre expressing its inability to conduct mock drills tomorrow.
Scheduled to begin at 5 PM, this comprehensive drill is being organised under the guidance of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, to simulate critical incidents such as air raids, drone attacks, and other wartime scenarios in light of current national security concerns.
Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Dr Sumita Misra, said that the exercise aims to test existing emergency mechanisms, improve coordination between the civil administration, defence forces and local communities, and identify areas that need to be strengthened, thus ensuring swift and effective response during any crisis.
She further stated that the drill will involve the large-scale mobilisation of Civil Defence Wardens, registered volunteers, and youth organisations including the National Cadet Corps (NCC), National Service Scheme (NSS), Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), and Bharat Scouts and Guides to assist in simulated emergency scenarios.
Key components include drills responding to aerial threats such as air raids and swarms of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), activation of air raid sirens, and testing of control room communication hotlines established with the Indian Air Force.
Additionally, a controlled blackout of 15 minutes will be observed from 8 PM to 8:15 PM near vital installations, with the exception of essential emergency services such as hospitals, fire stations, and police stations.
Misra highlighted that the exercise aligns with the Incident Response System (IRS), which Haryana officially notified on 28 January 2025, under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, providing a structured framework for effective emergency response.
She directed all Deputy Commissioners, who are also Chairpersons of District Disaster Management Authorities, along with Commissioners and Superintendents of Police, to ensure meticulous planning and execution of the exercise in their jurisdictions.
They have been instructed to submit detailed Action Taken Reports to the Commandant General, Home Guards, and Director, Civil Defence, Haryana, which will be compiled for state-level review and forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The mock exercises are scheduled for May 29 between 5 PM and 9 PM and should not be a cause for alarm for citizens.
Punjab will not conduct the scheduled mock drill under “Operation Shield” on Thursday. Special DGP Sanjeev Kalra, who is also the Commandant General of Home Guards and Director of Civil Defence, wrote a letter to the Directorate General of Fire Services, Civil Defence, and Home Guards in New Delhi thus communicating this decision.
He said that the postponement is due to the ongoing Training of Trainers (TOT) for Civil Defence, conducted by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
The exercise will now take place on June 3 at 19.30 hours in Punjab. He emphasised the importance of completing the TOT to ensure the effectiveness and preparedness of civil defence personnel for the upcoming exercise.