Operation Abhyaas: Mumbai¡¯s 5-day mock drills underway, Bihar groom puts nation first & pauses wedding; Here¡¯s what we know
From Mumbai to Haryana and even Bihar, India is witnessing a coordinated wave of mock drills under Operation Abhyaas. These drills involve blackouts, evacuation exercises, and public participation, preparing citizens for emergencies like air raids.
India has launched a large-scale civil defence exercise under the banner of ¡®Operation Abhyaas¡¯ across multiple states, aimed at preparing citizens for emergency situations such as air raids, blackouts, and other man-made crises. States including Maharashtra, Haryana, and Bihar have participated in this exercise, involving both authorities and civilians in coordinated mock drills, blackout protocols, and emergency response simulations.
Mumbai launches phase-wise drills with Blackouts
In Mumbai, mock drills are being held at multiple locations in a phased manner over five days. Maharashtra¡¯s Director of Civil Defence, senior IPS officer Prabhat Kumar, explained that these drills are meant to train citizens in personal safety and emergency response. The first day of the drill, codenamed Operation Abhyaas, featured joint demonstrations by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Mumbai Fire Brigade, Mumbai Police, and the National Disaster Response Force. Activities took place at several locations including Cross Maidan and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus.
???? ?????? ?????? ? ???? ????? ???? ??? ???? ??? ??????? ?????
¡ª PIB in Maharashtra ?? (@PIBMumbai) May 8, 2025
Mock Drill Conducted at Pune Railway Station and Pune Diesel Loco Shed
?https://t.co/GHe7mnO3Mb@RailMinIndia pic.twitter.com/F7N7OUUjtF
Kumar noted that while the average response time was around three minutes, the figure reflected a controlled environment and satisfactory coordination. Unlike combat drills for trained soldiers, he said these civil drills are meant to familiarise citizens with basic safety protocols. The primary focus, he added, was on ensuring smooth coordination between civil defence agencies and the public.
Haryana enforces full blackout in 20 districts
Following Home Ministry guidelines, Haryana organised similar drills across all 20 of its districts. The drills started with a siren and were followed by exercises like evacuation, coordination responses, and a full blackout. Residents were instructed to switch off all lights and stay indoors between 7.50 pm and 8.00 pm.
Haryana: Blackout in Sonipat as part of the nationwide mock drill ordered by MHA pic.twitter.com/0qe1qUagyx
¡ª IANS (@ians_india) May 7, 2025
Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi directed Deputy Commissioners and police officers to activate civil defence systems and ensure maximum public participation. The drills were conducted at government offices, public sector locations, and other key infrastructure sites, involving personnel from the Home Guards, Civil Defence Volunteers, NCC, and Disaster Mitras. Guidelines issued to the public included instructions to turn off household lights, disconnect inverters, avoid driving, and remain indoors during the blackout period.
A groom joins the drill before his wedding
A groom in Bihar delayed his wedding by over two hours to take part in the mock drill. Sushant Kushwaha, from Purnia district, chose to participate in the drill instead of immediately departing with his baraat for his bride¡¯s house in Araria, located 40 km away.
Speaking to the media, Kushwaha said, ¡°It is my wedding today, but that is not the only reason why I feel elated. Today, the Indian Army entered Pakistan and launched missile strikes on their terror bases.¡± He added that he had informed his family about his decision in advance and stressed that the nation comes first. ¡°Soldiers often leave their wedding venue to go and fight at the borders. If the situation demands, we will also do that,¡± he said.
A coordinated national effort
The nationwide drills were timed with India¡¯s retaliatory strikes on terror camps in Pakistan under Operation Sindoor, following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians. The drills under Operation Abhyaas involved simulations of air raids, search-and-rescue operations, and fire emergencies, with the objective of enhancing public awareness and readiness in the face of war-like scenarios.
Across all participating states, the drills have been marked by strong inter-agency coordination, detailed public advisories, and an emphasis on community participation demonstrating that emergency preparedness is no longer limited to the military but extends to every citizen.
For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
Nancy Jaiswal is a journalist who started her career in reporting and has covered both hard and soft news. From serious city news developments to lighthearted lifestyle pieces, she has written on almost everything hapenning in India (except maybe alien invasions¡ªyet!). For her, writing isn¡¯t just work; it¡¯s a passion, an obsession, and sometimes the reason she forgets to reply to texts.
Read More