The air raid simulation drill spans 244 vulnerable districts to boost civilian preparedness, featuring sirens, blackout protocols, and rescue efforts. Citizens are advised to remain calm and follow official guidance
Published May 06, 2025 | 7:57 PM ⚊ Updated May 06, 2025 | 7:57 PM
Hyderabad to conduct civil defence mock drill ‘Operation Abhyaas’ on 7 May
Synopsis: Hyderabad and major cities across Telangana, Karnataka, and Kerala will participate in the nationwide civil defence mock drill ‘Operation Abhyaas’ on 7 May at 4 PM. The exercise, simulating an air raid, covers 244 vulnerable districts to enhance civilian readiness. Sirens, blackout measures, and rescue operations will be part of the drill. Citizens are urged to stay calm and follow official instructions
Hyderabad will participate in a nationwide Civil Defence mock drill, codenamed ‘Operation Abhyaas’, on 7 May 2025, at 4 PM, simulating an incoming air raid scenario.
The drill is part of a Government of India initiative covering 244 vulnerable districts, including Hyderabad, to enhance emergency preparedness and civilian protection under the Civil Defence Act, 1968.
The Telangana state administration, reaffirming its commitment to civil safety, will conduct the exercise within the Outer Ring Road (ORR) limits of Hyderabad, led by 12 Civil Defence Services.
The goal is to train the civil administration and public to respond effectively during hostile attacks, minimize casualties, and maintain public morale.
At 4 PM, air raid sirens will sound across Hyderabad using industrial sirens, police mikes, fire vehicle alarms, and patrol sirens, continuing for two minutes. Citizens are urged not to panic, treat it as a safety drill, and follow specific instructions:
- Seek shelter immediately in a secure building.
- Stay updated through official channels like TV, radio, or government apps.
- Avoid spreading or acting on unverified information.
- Turn off utilities at home and stay indoors until an all-clear is given.
The mock attack impact will be simulated at four locations:
Secunderabad & Golkonda cantonments, Kanchan Bagh, and Nacharam, with the exact sites to be confirmed a day prior.
By 4:15 PM, the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) will notify emergency services to respond to the simulated impact zones.
Key response activities
- Police: Clearing and securing affected areas for smooth access.
- Fire and SDRF: Firefighting, search and rescue, and debris removal.
- Medical teams: On-site triage, first aid, and evacuation to temporary hospitals.
- Transport: Moving civilians to safe shelters or demilitarized zones.
- GHMC and Civil Supplies: Providing immediate relief and support at shelters.
Blackout measures will also be demonstrated, including switching off streetlights and dimming vehicle headlights to reduce visibility during air raids.
At 4:30 PM, the ICCC will activate a final siren marking the conclusion of the mock drill.
Arvind Kumar, IAS, Special Chief Secretary, shared on X, “Hyderabad is one of the 244 vulnerable districts identified. As part of ‘Operation Abhyaas’, a mock siren will play from 4 to 4:30 PM on May 7 within ORR. Citizens need not panic — it’s an exercise in safety.”
#Hyderabad is one of 244 vulnerable districts in the country identified & as part of nationwide “Operation Abhyaas” – Civil Defence (CD) exercise, siren will play from 4-4.30 pm on May 7th within ORR.
Citizens need not panic. It’s an exercise in safety
Mock drill @ 4 locations pic.twitter.com/jHargazpE4— Arvind Kumar (@arvindkumar_ias) May 6, 2025
The Director General of Fire Services, Sri Nagi Reddy, who is also the Director of Civil Defence Telangana, will coordinate the drill in collaboration with the NDRF and Disaster Management authorities.
Citizens are urged to fully cooperate with the drill and rely only on official communications.
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Karnataka announces drill
The Karnataka Police Department announced that the mock drills will be conducted in three places in the state including Bengaluru , Karwar and Raichur as per the directions of Ministry of Home Affairs released yesterday.
According to Prashant Kumar Thakur, Director General of Police and Commandant General of Home Guards, Civil Defence, Fire and Emergency Services, State Disaster Response Force, the mock drills will be held in Bengaluru, Karwar and Raichur on 7 May.
He said, “The NCC, NSS, Civil defence personnel and medical professionals will participate in the mock drill. Sirens have been installed at 35 locations including police stations and fire stations. Of these currently, sirens at 32 locations are working.”
He also said, “The Union Government will issue guidelines for the public about dos and donts.”
Kerala gears up for statewide drill
In line with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs’ directive to bolster grassroots-level civil defence preparedness across the country, Kerala will conduct a statewide civil defence mock drill in all 14 districts on Wednesday, 7 May.
The exercise, part of a national plan to operationalise emergency response mechanisms in the event of a hostile attack, will commence at 4 PM.
Chief Secretary Dr A Jayathilak, who convened a high-level meeting on Tuesday, 6 May to review preparations, instructed district collectors and officials to ensure the effective and coordinated conduct of the mock drill.
The Chief Secretary also appealed to the public, institutions, and organisations to cooperate fully, remain vigilant, and avoid panic during the exercise.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday directed states to conduct comprehensive mock drills at the village level in 244 categorised districts, simulating scenarios of air-raid warnings, crash blackouts, camouflaging vital installations, evacuation drills, hotline operations with the Indian Air Force, and civilian training in emergency protocols.
Kerala’s drill will incorporate these measures, testing various aspects of civil defence readiness across urban and rural areas.
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Community and household preparedness
At the community level, Residents’ Associations and Panchayats have been instructed to appoint wardens to oversee the drill.
Announcements via public address systems, including in places of worship, will alert residents to the mock blackout. Ward-level drills will be organised, and first aid kits will be readied in schools, community halls, and other key locations.
Community volunteers have been tasked with assisting vulnerable individuals during the blackout, while residents have been urged to follow the directions of mock drill wardens, stay indoors, and avoid panic.
Households have been directed to turn off all lights and cover windows with thick cardboard or curtains at 4 PM when the siren sounds, simulating a crash blackout. Mobile phones and light-emitting devices should not be used near windows.
Residents are advised to keep torches, glow sticks, radios, and first aid kits handy, and to conduct “family drills” to ensure every member is familiar with safety procedures.
A long siren will signify the start of the blackout drill, while a short siren will indicate an all-clear. People in public spaces are expected to move indoors for safety, and gas and electrical appliances should be switched off as a precautionary measure.
High-level coordination
Today’s meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary was attended by the Additional Chief Secretaries of Home, Revenue, Health and Family Welfare, State Police Chief, Director General of Fire and Rescue Services, Special Secretary and Commissioner of Disaster Management, Director of the Information and Public Relations Department, District Collectors, and the Member Secretary of the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority.
The state’s mock drill, part of a broader national effort, aims to sensitise the public to emergency protocols, strengthen inter-departmental coordination, and operationalise wartime civil defence mechanisms—an exercise not conducted on this scale in recent years.
Officials have reassured the public that the mock drill is a precautionary preparedness measure and urged everyone to actively participate and stay informed via official channels.
(Edited by Ananya Rao with inputs from Sumit Jha, Dileep V Kumar, Rashmi Patil)
