Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, May 31: In a major step to enhance national security preparedness, civil defence mock drills will be conducted on Saturday under ‘Operation Shield’ across several states and Union Territories sharing borders with Pakistan.

The drills, initially planned for May 29 but rescheduled for administrative reasons, will commence at 5:00 pm in Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, and Chandigarh, focusing on vulnerable regions closest to the border and most susceptible to cross-border threats.

A government press release issued on May 29 confirmed the new date and emphasized the importance of the exercise in strengthening readiness and addressing critical gaps identified during a nationwide drill held earlier this month on May 7.

Operation Shield aims to simulate hostile scenarios — including air raid sirens, blackout protocols, and emergency response actions — to test and improve the preparedness of civil authorities, emergency services, and local communities.

According to official sources, complete blackouts will be enforced in selected vulnerable areas across Punjab, except for essential services like hospitals and emergency units. Sirens will be sounded to alert residents, and mock response measures will be implemented to evaluate how effectively communities and agencies react under pressure.

Government officials highlighted that the previous exercise revealed several operational shortcomings, necessitating targeted follow-up drills in high-risk zones.

The initiative underscores the government’s commitment to strengthening civil defence mechanisms amid heightened regional security concerns. The drills are expected to enhance inter-agency coordination, public awareness, and the capacity of local systems to respond swiftly to any hostile act or natural disaster impacting the border regions.