India Pak War Again: Mock drill on today across border

India Pak War Again: The civil defence mock exercise Operation Shield, scheduled to be held in border states and union territories on Thursday, has been postponed due to administrative reasons.

The exercise, aimed at strengthening emergency preparedness amid ongoing tensions with Pakistan, was intended to simulate responses to hostile attacks, including drone strikes and airstrikes. States including Haryana, Rajasthan and Punjab, as well as the Union Territory of Chandigarh, officially announced the postponement of the mock drills late on Wednesday evening.

According to officials, the decision was made for “administrative reasons,” although further details were not immediately provided. “As per the instructions of the Union Home Ministry, the Haryana Home Department has announced the postponement of the comprehensive civil defence exercise, Operation Shield, scheduled to be held on Thursday,” an official statement from the Haryana Home Department confirmed the postponement.

All District Collectors and relevant stakeholders were informed accordingly. The Chandigarh administration, echoing the announcement, clarified on Thursday that there would be “no blackout or mock drill”, attributing the decision to the instructions of the Government of India.

Initially, Operation Shield was planned to be conducted in all 22 districts of Haryana from 5 pm to 9 pm, involving a full-scale simulation of wartime scenarios such as air strikes and drone strikes. The exercise is designed to test evacuation protocols, activate air raid sirens, and mobilize medical and emergency response teams.

Rajasthan, which had planned a comprehensive mock drill in its 41 districts, also issued a similar order and postponed it. According to a statement from the state’s Home Department, a new date for the drill will be announced soon.

Preparations for the parade, including siren activation and special arrangements, had begun in border districts like Jaisalmer and Barmer as soon as the direction came from the Centre. Punjab took a different approach, proactively requesting a rescheduling of the exercise, as its civil defence personnel are currently training with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).

The Centre has accepted Punjab’s proposal to hold the parade on June 3 and the District Magistrates have been informed about the revised date. This is the second time such mock drills have been held this year.

The first took place on May 7 after Operation Sindoor, a military operation launched by Indian forces targeting terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The campaign was a direct response to the horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, in which 26 people were killed.

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