Following the Pahalgham terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, 2025, the Ministry of Home Affairs has ordered nationwide mock drills on May 7 to ensure crisis readiness. To be held across 244 civil defence districts in 9 states, the Civil Defence, Police and local administration are coordinating as we speak for the impending simulation.
The administration is set to carry out a mock drill at 55 locations in the city from 4 pm to 7 pm. These 11 revenue districts—five locations per district—cover approximately 40 markets, 600-plus schools, and other vital institutions. Spread across 15 police districts in the city, the drill codenamed Operation Abhyas will replicate blackout procedures, fire emergencies, search and rescue operations, and air raids, among other measures.
Measures in place
Security has been upped, and barricades have been placed around high-level spots around the city, such as Connaught Place and in areas adjacent to the Parliament. Further Long-Range Acoustic Devices (LRAD) have been obtained for the officials, which can transmit clear messages within a 500-meter to a one-kilometre radius. This device remains crucial as it acts as a powerful siren to ensure crowd dispersal.
60 air sirens are set to go off today at 4 pm across the city as the mock drill aims to mobilise police officers, civilian volunteers, bureaucrats and rescue teams. The mock drills will further see active participation from civil defence wardens, home guards, NCC, NSS, NYKS, students and community volunteers.
The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has announced that there will be a 15-minute power cut between 8 p.m. and 8.15 p.m. on May 7. ‘All residents are requested to please cooperate and bear with the situation,’ NDMC states.
Key areas in Delhi participating in mock drills
New Delhi:
- Khan Market
- T3, IGI Airport
- New Delhi Municipal Council office building (Palika Kendra)
- Charak Palika Hospital
- Vasant Vihar D-6 residential colony
- Kendriya Vidyalaya in Delhi Cantonment.
East Delhi:
- Maharishi Valmiki College of Education
- Scope Minar
- DM East Office
- Kondli Market
- Sahyog Apartments
West Delhi:
- District Magistrate’s Office and MCD East Zone Office in Raja Garden
- Rajouri Garden J-Block Market
- DLF Capital Greens in Moti Nagar
- SKV Mundka
- DDU Hospital in Hari Nagar
North Delhi:
- Rohini’s G3S Cinema Mall, Sector 11
- Rohini Sector 18-19 Metro Station
- Jhangirpuri’s Babu Jag Jivan Ram Hospital
- Azadpur’s M2K Victoria Garden
- Holambi Khurd’s The Maan School.
South Delhi:
- Saket’s Select Citywalk Mall
- Pushp Vihar’s Birla Vidya Niketan School
- Mehrauli’s Sitaram Bharatiya Institute of Science & Research
- Saket’s Anupam Apartment
- Saket’s District Court Complex
Further, 650 schools in the city have undergone training on evacuation and response in case of a blackout. In addition, police patrols have been strengthened and deployed to several key areas in the city, such as India Gate, Janpath, Yashwant Palace, and Gole Market.
Other Indian cities and states conducting mock drills
Other key locations such as Mumbai, Chennai, Lucknow, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Goa, Amritsar and Kolkata will also be participating in these country-wide mock drills on May 7. Find the full list here.