What is Mock Drill?
A mock drill is a practice or rehearsal of how to respond during an emergency, like a natural disaster, fire, or war-like situation. It helps people and authorities prepare for real-life dangers by simulating the situation in a safe, controlled way.
During a mock drill, people follow set instructions like:
- Moving to a safe place
- Turning off lights and electrical appliances
- Responding to sirens
- Practicing evacuation from buildings
India is all set to conduct a massive nationwide emergency mock drill on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at 4 PM. Organised by the Ministry of Home Affairs, this preparedness exercise is being carried out across all states and Union Territories to improve the country’s readiness against possible air attacks or emergency situations. This is the first time since 1971 that a drill of such scale is being held.
The goal of this mock drill is to train both citizens and emergency response teams on how to respond during hostile threats. The drill will include sounding air-raid sirens, switching off all lights and electrical appliances during a blackout simulation, and practicing evacuation and safety measures at schools, offices, and public places. The public is also being encouraged to stay alert and cooperate fully to make this exercise successful.
In Delhi, the mock drill will take place at 55 different locations with more than 650 schools participating. The schools have been instructed to conduct evacuation drills and blackout response training. Videos have been shared with the schools to demonstrate the correct procedures for such emergencies.
In Maharashtra, the exercise will cover 16 locations across 10 districts including Mumbai, Pune, Thane, Raigad, and Nashik. Important towns like Uran, Manmad, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and Bhusawal will also take part. Notably, Mumbai University has announced that all scheduled exams will go on as planned and won’t be interrupted by the drill.
Bengaluru, along with Karwar and Raichur in Karnataka, will also participate. The Director General of Police has confirmed that drills in the state will continue throughout the week to thoroughly identify any weaknesses in their emergency response systems. In Hyderabad, the sirens will go off inside the Outer Ring Road at 4 PM and again at 4:30 PM to signal the end of the drill. The local police, fire services, and disaster response teams will be involved in the operations.
The West Bengal government will begin a seven-day emergency preparedness campaign from May 7. In Kolkata alone, sirens will ring from 90 key buildings including the Calcutta High Court, Lalbazar Police Headquarters, and other major government offices. Tamil Nadu will conduct its drills at the Madras Atomic Power Station in Kalpakkam and at Chennai Port Trust.
All districts of Uttar Pradesh will conduct full-scale drills, while Bareilly will also observe a 10-minute blackout from 8 PM to 8:10 PM. In Punjab and Haryana, cities such as Ludhiana, Amritsar, Patiala, Ambala, Gurugram, and Faridabad will actively take part in the simulation exercises.
In Gujarat, the drill will be held across 18 districts including Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, and Gandhinagar. Citizens are also requested to voluntarily switch off lights from 7:30 PM to 8 PM as part of the drill. Similar activities will be carried out in Bihar, Kerala, Assam, Manipur, Tripura, Jammu & Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Sikkim, Andhra Pradesh, and even in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
During the drill, everyone is expected to switch off all lights and avoid using electronic devices, especially near windows. Emergency lights, if used, should be covered with thick curtains or cardboard to prevent light from escaping. People are encouraged to gather in the safest part of their homes when the siren sounds and carry out a family drill. Radios and TVs should be used to follow official updates. Gas connections and other electrical appliances must be turned off to prevent accidents.
The goal is to test how ready the public, schools, offices, and security teams are to handle emergencies. Just like fire drills in schools, these drills train us to act quickly and correctly if a real threat happens.
This mock drill is a reminder for all of us to be prepared for unforeseen emergencies. While we hope such situations never occur, knowing what to do can make a huge difference in saving lives and reducing panic.
Official Announcement by the Rulling Party of India on Twitter!
So, are you ready for the drill? Do you know the safest place in case of an emergency? Has your school, college, or office briefed you about the drill? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments. Let’s all stay informed and prepared.
