Nationwide mock drill 'Operation Abhyaas' simulates hostile scenarios

A massive civil defence exercise titled Operation Abhyaas was carried out across India on Monday, involving mock drills simulating emergencies such as air raids, bomb threats, fires, and rescue operations.

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The Ministry of Home Affairs had earlier announced the initiative, directing states and Union Territories to organise coordinated drills amid rising security concerns.

The drills came shortly after the launch of Operation Sindoor by armed forces, which targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. That military action followed the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, where 26 civilians were killed. Mock drills under Operation Abhyaas were executed in over 300 civil defence districts across the country. The exercise spanned states and Union Territories including Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam, and the northeastern states. In Delhi, drills took place at 55 sites. Sirens blared as security forces and fire services launched simulated responses. Injured "victims" were seen being carried on stretchers, while Delhi Fire Services used cranes to evacuate people from high-rises.