‘First time after 1971’: Delhi minister praises MHA's call for mock drills, ensures full support to PM Modi's move

Delhi's education minister Ashish Sood hailed the the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) call to conduct nationwide mock drills on May 7. He said, “Such announcements have been made for the first time after 1971, and we are ready."

"The people of Delhi are with PM Narendra Modi and his call with all their hearts,” Ashish Sood told news agency ANI on Tuesday.

Mock Drills

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued directions for the mock drill for effective civil defence in all the states and union territories on May 7.

As per a notification, the Union home ministry asked several states to conduct mock drills on May 7 for effective civil defence, given the "new and complex threats" that have emerged amid rising tensions with Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack.

They said the measures to be undertaken include operationalisation of Air Raid Warning Sirens and training of civilians, students, etc on the civil defence aspects to protect themselves in the event of a hostile attack.

The sources said measures also include the provision of crash blackout measures, provision for early camouflaging of vital installations and updation of the evacuation plan and its rehearsal.

It said the government has decided to organise a civil defence exercise and rehearsal across the 244 categorised civil defence districts in the country on May 7.

Meanwhile, the civil defence held a meeting with all its employees on the ways to protect citizens in case of an air attack in the city. Along with this, everyone was also given guidelines on protecting the public.

The decision came in the aftermath of the deadly terror attacks in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir that killed at least 26 people. The government has said that perpetrators of the terror attack will face severe punishment.

(With inputs from agencies)