As India intensifies border security following retaliatory strikes, Bengaluru carried out a large-scale mock civil defence drill on Wednesday under Operation Abhyas, a nationwide emergency readiness initiative ordered by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Held at 3:30 PM in Ulsoor, the drill simulated responses to air raids, fires, evacuations, and rescue operations. Bengaluru, listed among 244 vulnerable districts, was chosen due to its Category II Civil Defence status based on national risk assessments.
Sirens with three distinct alarm tones were sounded across the city, each tone guiding civilians and responders through staged emergency phases such as blackouts, evacuations, and sheltering. Drills took place at key points—police stations, fire units, traffic hubs—and involved Bengaluru’s 5,000-strong Civil Defence force.
The simulation included:
- Air raid siren activation and blackout protocols
- High-rise fire emergency response
- Hazardous zone casualty extraction
- Field hospital installation
- Civilian evacuation to safety bunkers
This drill follows Operation Sindhoor, India’s targeted military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 civilians lost their lives. On May 7, Indian forces reportedly struck nine terror-linked locations in Pakistan and PoK.
Operation Abhyas, officials say, is part of a nationwide civil defence ramp-up amid high alert status. The Bengaluru drill was overseen by Prashant Kumar Thakur, DG of Civil Defence, with support from SDRF and local administration.
Additional drills are scheduled soon in Raichur, Karwar, Mysuru, and Mandya.
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