Today at 5 pm, India is pressing the red alert button—but this time, it’s only a drill.
Under Operation Shield, a massive civil defence mock drill will be held across all Indian states and Union Territories bordering Pakistan, including Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, and Chandigarh.
The drill, postponed from May 29 for “administrative reasons,” is designed to simulate wartime conditions—missile strikes, drone attacks, blackouts, and mass evacuations. It’s not a show of strength; it’s a readiness test. And everyone from school volunteers to civil wardens will be part of it.
If you live in a border district, expect air raid sirens, power blackouts, and even emergency drills in your neighborhood. Authorities want to see how both systems and civilians react.
It’s a reminder: even in peacetime, tension along the Western front never quite sleeps.
Why Operation Shield, Why Now?
Let’s rewind. On May 7, after the Pahalgam terror attack killed 26 civilians, India hit back with Operation Sindoor, a retaliatory strike on nine terror camps in Pakistan and PoK.
What followed was four days of tension—cross-border shelling, drone sightings, missile threats. That chaos revealed cracks in our civilian emergency response.
So now, Operation Shield is here to plug those gaps.
Also Read PM Modi’s Stark Reminder: ‘Pakistan Pleaded During Op Sindoor – Battle Isn’t Done’
State-by-State Snapshot
Jammu & Kashmir
Districts like Rajouri, Poonch, Baramulla, and Kupwara will undergo large-scale evacuation drills. Officials even issued prep guides for what to do if missiles hit. It’s not paranoia—it’s planning.
Punjab & Chandigarh
Expect blackouts and sirens in border towns. Chandigarh will go dark in Kishangarh and IT Park at 8 pm. Punjab Police confirm all districts will participate, testing both infrastructure and panic levels.
Haryana
From 5 pm to 8:15 pm, Haryana’s 22 districts will run drills, including simulated drone strikes. A controlled blackout will follow—though hospitals and emergency units will remain active.
Rajasthan
The desert state, including Jaisalmer, will join with sirens at six locations and 72 trained volunteers on the ground. Locations? Classified. Message? We’re ready.
Gujarat
In Patan, 18 areas will participate in blackout drills. Vadodara and Surat are also in. Lights off from 8:00 to 8:30 pm—think of it as a safety rehearsal with stakes.
So, Is This Overkill?
Nope. Not when you’re dealing with a neighbour that’s part-time denialist, full-time hostile. India’s not looking for war. But preparedness isn’t optional anymore.
As The Indian Express put it, this drill is about civilian survival—not soldier swagger.
Source: Indian Express coverage on May 30
In a region where one rogue drone could change headlines overnight, Operation Shield isn’t dramatic—it’s necessary.
Because when a siren wails on the border, it doesn’t come with a warning label.
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