Operation Sindoor: Punjab, Haryana to conduct civil defence exercise tomorrow

The states of Punjab and Haryana will conduct statewide civil defence exerciseon Saturday as part of the nationwide initiative known as Operation Shield as announced by officials on FridayThese drills will incorporate sirens blackouts and emergency scenarios all designed to assess the preparedness of local authorities and citizens in the event of attacks or disasters according to the news agency ANIPunjabs Special Director General of Police Sanjeev Kalra stated that the exercise would encompass all districts and simulate largescale emergencies commencing at 6 pmThe drill is a part of Operation Shield and is being conducted in all districts of the bordering states on the Western border The civil defence exercise will be conducted by 6 pm on Saturday Kalra stated reported news agency ANIHe added that a detailed meeting had already been held with the district administrations to prepare for the exercise As part of the drill sirens will be sounded and blackouts will be enforced to mimic reallife emergency conditionsBlackout measures rescue measures and fire services are a part of the drill The representatives of the armed forces will also be involved in it Kalra informed reported ANIIn neighbouring Haryana similar preparations are being made Haryana Joint Secretary Sunita Mishra said that civil defence exercisewill begin at 5 pm on Saturday and follow guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs MHAA total of 32000 volunteers will take part across the stateThe mock drill will be conducted throughout Haryana on 31st May We will also be following the guidelines of the Ministry of Home Affairs MHA The drill will prepare us for any future contingencies 32000 volunteers will also participate in the drill We are training and briefing these volunteers The activities will be done after 5 pm she said reported ANIEarlier the civil defence drill scheduled for May 29 has been postponed due to administrative reasons However the dates for the same are yet to be announcedA statement released by the Gujarat Information Department read It is hereby intimated that the Civil Defence Exercise Operation Shield which was planned to be held on May 29 2025 is hereby postponed due to administrative reasons It is requested that necessary directions to all the Controllers of Civil Defence and other stakeholders may be issued accordingly Next dates for the exercise shall be issued subsequentlyAdditionally the civil defence exercise has also been postponed in Rajasthan and the Union Territory of Chandigarh according to ANIEarlier on Wednesday as per the orders from the Government of India and under the guidance of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel a civil defence exercise was scheduled to be conducted in Gujarat on Thursday at 500 PMRegarding the Operation Shield drill Chief Secretary of the Revenue Department Gujarat Jayanti Ravi on Wednesday virtually reviewed preparations made by the district administrationAlong with this she also gave necessary instructions to all the District Collectors for the successful implementation of a drillFurther Jayanti Ravi said that during this exercise various actions like ensuring the readiness of the local administration regarding civil security taking the services of young volunteers like NCC NSS Bharat Scout and Guide setting up a hotline between the Air Force and the Civil Security Control Room regarding enemy aircraft and missile attacks activating the air raid siren ensuring complete darkness and ensuring public safety and their property will be takenOperation Sindoor targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistanoccupied Jammu and Kashmir PoJKThe operation was a retaliatory response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam Jammu and Kashmir which resulted in the deaths of 26 people including one Nepalese nationalWith ANI inputs