MHA meeting concludes, identifies ‘loopholes’ ahead of civil defence mock drill

The key meeting of the Union home ministry ahead of the nationwide mock drill on Wednesday has identified "loopholes" to be rectified in the defence mechanism. The civil defence mock drill will be conducted at over 240 districts across India tomorrow.

 

Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan chaired a meeting to review the preparedness for the key mock drill amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack. Chief secretaries and heads of civil defence from across the country attended the meeting besides officials from key Central forces. 

 

A senior official of the National Disaster Management Authority told ANI, "We are reviewing preparedness. Loopholes to be rectified have been identified." The meeting reportedly reviewed readiness for Wednesday's drill. As per reports, 19 sites have been given top priority in tomorrow's drill.

 

Meanwhile, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the second time within two days. Doval reportedly briefed the prime minister about recent developments following the Pahalgam terror attack. The meeting comes amid speculations over India's retaliatory action against Pakistan for the gruesome attack.

 

Ahead of the drill, trials are being conducted in cities across the country. Air sirens are being installed at various places. The civil defence mock drill includes sounding air-raid warning sirens, training civilians to protect themselves in the event of a "hostile attack" and cleaning bunkers and trenches. Other measures that will be covered as part of the drill include crash-blackout measures, early camouflaging of vital plants and installations and updating and rehearsing evacuation plans.

 

States have also been advised to check the operationalisation of hotline and radio-communication links with the Indian Air Force (IAF), testing the functionality of control rooms and shadow control rooms, the publication reported.

India