How Kashmir is preparing for civil defence mock drill scheduled on May 7
An Indian security force personnel uses binoculars as he stands on a rooftop, following a suspected militant attack near south Kashmir's Pahalgam, in Srinagar | Reuters
Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir will conduct a large-scale civil defence mock drill in Kashmir on Wednesday, as part of an emergency preparedness initiative directed by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
The Directorate of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Civil Defence have issued a public advisory informing residents that the drill will take place at 4:00 pm.
As part of the simulation, sirens will be sounded at multiple locations at the same time to test emergency response systems and public readiness in case of a conflict or natural disaster.
Officials said the aim of the exercise is to improve coordination among security forces, disaster response teams and local civil defence volunteers.
It will also help assess the readiness of infrastructure and communication systems in a high-level emergency or war-like situation.
"This is purely a practice drill and there is no need to panic. We request the public to remain calm and fully cooperate," the advisory stated.
While such drills are routine in conflict-sensitive areas, this particular one is significant given the current heightened security situation. Similar exercises have recently taken place in other border states.
Security forces, medical teams, fire services and civil administration personnel are expected to take part. Traffic may be temporarily disrupted in some areas during the drill.
Residents have been urged not to spread rumours and to rely only on official updates from verified government sources.
The drill comes in the wake of India’s response to the 22 April terror attack in Pahalgam, in which 25 tourists and one local horse ride operator, Syed Adil Hussain, were killed.
India has pledged to act against those behind the attack and their handlers. Following the incident, New Delhi downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan and suspended the Indus Water Treaty.
The government has already stopped the flow of water from Indian rivers into Pakistan. Yesterday, the discharge in the Chenab River dropped to a historic low after the gates of the dams in Ramban and Reasi were closed.
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