MHA Directs States and Union Territories to Hold Civil Defence Mock Drills on May 7

New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has directed states and Union territories to hold civil defence mock drills on May 7 to enhance emergency preparedness.

"States and union territories have been instructed to organise and oversee the drill. It will involve local government authorities, Civil Defence wardens, Home Guards, National Cadet Corps (NCC), National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) members, and students from schools and colleges," said an order from the MHA, reported The Economic Times.

The MHA order comes at a time when tensions between India and Pakistan are on the rise at the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people, mostly tourists were killed.

According to government sources, the drills are aimed to achieve goals including assessing the effectiveness of air raid warning systems, operationalisation of Hotline/Radio Communication Links with the Indian Air Force, testing the functionality of control rooms and shadow control rooms.

In Delhi, all Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) have been directed to prepare detailed contingency plans following the MHA mock drills order.