India has conducted a series of drills simulating drone attacks on key locations as tensions with neighboring Pakistan continue.
One of the exercises was held in Ludhiana, Punjab, where a late-night siren alerted residents and authorities to a simulated aerial threat.
The drill triggered a coordinated emergency response involving the Indian Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), fire brigade, police, and health officials.
An incident command post was set up inside the Dholewal Military Complex to centralize operations, while agencies carried out demonstrations on firefighting, casualty rescue, and emergency medical care.
According to Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain, the goal was to boost public awareness and sharpen readiness in the event of an actual attack.
Jaipur and Barmer
Similar drills were staged in Rajasthan, including in Jaipur’s Khatipura area, roughly 480 kilometers (298 miles) from the Pakistan border.
Civil defense teams recreated a sudden drone strike on a crowded market, triggering a brief blackout and evacuation. State Disaster Response Force teams responded with cranes and emergency gear to simulate the rescue of trapped civilians.
Residents were also instructed to stay calm, remain indoors, and locate nearby shelters.
In another drill in Barmer district’s Uttarlai area, a hotline message at 6 pm signaled the start of a mock drone strike. Emergency teams responded quickly, with the fire brigade extinguishing a simulated blaze caused by the attack.
India and Pakistan have seen tensions spike in recent weeks following New Delhi’s missile strikes on alleged militant camps. The strikes came in response to the Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 civilians, most of them tourists.
