Following the deadly terror strike in Pahalgam, Kashmir, on April 22, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has ordered large-scale emergency preparedness drills across 244 sites nationwide, scheduled for May 7. Among the locations are key cities in Karnataka—Bengaluru, Raichur, and Karwar.
Prashant Kumar Thakur, head of the Home Guards, Civil Defence, and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), stated that Bengaluru, a densely populated metropolitan and India’s tech capital, was a natural inclusion. Raichur hosts a major thermal power facility, while Karwar houses the Kaiga nuclear station. The drills are to be concluded by 4 PM.
Bengaluru, known as the Silicon Valley of India, is home to major IT and biotech firms, as well as crucial establishments like ISRO, DRDO, and the Yelahanka Air Force Station. Meanwhile, Karwar features the Kaiga Atomic Power Station—the third-largest in India—and INS Kadamba, a prominent naval base.
Raichur’s coal-powered thermal station generates nearly 70% of Karnataka’s electricity, making it a critical infrastructure point.
Thakur mentioned that civil defence units, originally trained during the 1971 Indo-Pak war, are now being revived as per MHA guidelines. Coordination meetings have been held through video conferencing with central authorities.
A senior police official clarified that Karnataka, being a Category B state, will conduct drills distinct from those in border-sharing states like Punjab or West Bengal.
The primary goal of these exercises is to educate civilians and students in self-preservation during hostile threats and ensure the concealment of sensitive facilities.
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