Odisha to Hold Mock Drills as India-Pakistan Tensions Escalate
Civil defence exercises scheduled for May 7, 2025, to enhance preparedness in light of escalating tensions and the Pahalgam terror attack.
In response to escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, the Odisha government has announced a series of civil defence mock drills across the state.
The drills, set for Wednesday, will take place at 12 sensitive locations, as directed by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. Key sites include high-priority strategic zones such as Chandipur in Balasore, Dhamra, and the state capital, Bhubaneswar.
As per the Ministry of Defence’s classification, Talcher is listed under Category-1 Civil Defence Districts. Category-2 districts include Balasore, Koraput, Bhubaneswar, Gopalpur, Hirakud, Rourkela, and Paradip. Bhadrak, Dhenkanal, Jagatsinghpur, and Kendrapara fall under Category-3. These 12 districts will conduct coordinated drills at strategic sites and critical infrastructure points.
In addition, regions such as Cuttack, Puri, and the Paradip Port zone, which house vital defence, port, and administrative assets, may also conduct precautionary exercises due to their potential vulnerability during a military conflict or large-scale terror attack.
Residents in these areas will be notified in advance. The drills will simulate scenarios like air raids, blackout protocols, mass evacuations, and emergency rescue operations. Authorities are urging citizens to cooperate and treat the exercises as vital preparedness opportunities, while also staying vigilant due to ongoing regional tensions.
This initiative is part of a larger nationwide Civil Defence Mock Drill program directed by the Ministry of Home Affairs. All state and union territory administrations have been instructed to carry out full-scale rehearsals on May 7 across the 244 categorised Civil Defence Districts in the country.
The exercises aim to enhance operational readiness, improve communication with the Indian Air Force, and test civilian response mechanisms to aerial and ground threats. Odisha’s drills align with the national agenda, focusing on rapid response, public safety awareness, and emergency coordination at all levels—from district headquarters to village panchayats.
The announcement follows the April 22 terrorist ambush in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 people were killed in an attack claimed by Pakistan-based militant groups. In response, the Indian government has placed its armed forces on high alert and activated civil defence protocols nationwide.
