India-Pakistan Tensions: Will phones give alerts during May 7 mock drill? Know about sirens, sounds, and their purpose

New Delhi: After the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, which claimed 26 lives, tensions between India and Pakistan have increased. Because of this, the Indian government has planned a nationwide civil defence mock drill on May 7, 2025. In this drill, loud air raid sirens will be played in different parts of the country to create a situation similar to war or a big emergency. The aim is to prepare common people, including school students, so they know what to do if a real attack happens in the future.

Many people are now asking:

What is an air raid siren? How does it work? And will our mobile phones also give alerts during this drill? Let’s understand everything step by step.

What is an air raid siren?

An air raid siren is a very loud alarm that indicates people about an extreme danger like an airstrike, missile attack, or war like situation. Sometimes, sirens are also used during natural disasters (i.e. earthquakes, thunderstorms). When you hear the siren, it mainly lasts for about 60 seconds. This tells you that you should instantly take shelter. After the siren stops, it means the danger is over, and it is safe to come out.

Working of air raid sirens

We still have no updates on what kind of siren will be used in this mock drill, but talking about the world around us, sirens do work in different ways, let’s discuss them one by one.

Air-powered sirens: These use spinning discs with holes, and air is blown through them to make a shrilling sound.

Electric sirens: These make noise by using vibrating parts like horns.

Electronic sirens: These are modern sirens that use speakers. The sound comes from a digital system, so it is more clear and systematized. These sirens can also connect to radio signals to give alerts to a large area.

Will phones also give alerts during the mock drill?

Some people are wondering whether they will receive alerts on their phones during the mock drill or not. So far, the government hasn’t clearly confirmed this. However, we can take an idea by seeing what other countries have done in similar war-like conditions. In 2023, the United Kingdom tested an emergency alert system. Phones with 4G or 5G received a loud beep along with a vibration, even if the device was on silent mode. The alert lasted for about 10 seconds. However, people whose phones were switched off didn’t receive any signal.

If India adopts a similar method, you might hear a loud alert on your mobile, but only if it’s turned on and supports 4G or 5G networks.

Let’s know about different sirens:

Different siren sounds are used during civil defence drills to alert people about different types of situations. These sounds are easy to recognize and help people know what action to take quickly. There are mainly two kinds of siren sounds, let’s see. The first type is the wailing sound, which rises and falls repeatedly. This siren usually lasts between one to three minutes. It is used to indicate a warning signal to people about some serious dangers like a missile strike or an air attack. When you hear this sound, it means you must pay attention immediately. People are suggested to move to a safe place, such as a bomb shelter or any protected area, and stay there until further notice.

The second type is a flat or steady tone. This sound remains constant without any rise or fall and usually lasts for about one minute. It is used to signal that the danger has passed. When you hear this sound, it means the emergency is over, and it is now safe to come out of haven, and return to their ordinary work schedules.

Civil defence drills that use these sirens are needed to be practiced time to time. Their work is to prepare the civilians for real emergencies or war time. These drills enhance awareness and ensure that people know what to do, without getting panic and shocked.

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