Mock Drill in Hyderabad: On Wednesday, May 7, 2025, Hyderabad will host a massive civil defense mock drill as part of a nationwide readiness exercise known as “Operation Abhyaas.” Twelve Civil Defense agencies, including the police, fire, rescue, medical, and municipal departments, will participate in the drill, which will take place throughout the city inside the boundaries of the Outer Ring Road (ORR) between 4:00 and 4:30 p.m.
4 P.M. sirens:
To mimic the start of an air raid, sirens will sound throughout the city at 4 p.m. These will include police public address systems, fire engine sirens, industrial sirens, and patrol car announcements. The pretend situation will begin when the sirens ring for two minutes.
Expected Public Response:
The notice instructs the public to take immediate action by seeking shelter, shutting off gas and electrical appliances, and staying indoors until authorities provide further instructions. Authorities also urge the public to avoid spreading or acting on unconfirmed information and to rely solely on official sources for updates.
Civil defense teams will conduct the exercise under the Civil Defence Act of 1968, which mandates routine readiness drills to prepare the public and civil authorities for hostile assaults. The exercise aims to assess departmental collaboration, raise public awareness, and improve emergency response procedures. The Indian government has identified 244 districts as vulnerable, including Hyderabad.
Mock Drill Places in Hyderabad:
The mock drill focuses on four major areas: Secunderabad, Kanchanbagh, Moula Ali NFC, and Golconda. Authorities aim to alert citizens about potential aerial attacks and assess preparedness. They will sound air raid sirens to warn the public. Officials also announced a complete power cut in the city during the drill.
Although the plan includes blackout procedures, officials won’t implement them since the drill is scheduled before sunset. However, they will inform residents about necessary precautions, such as turning off lighted signs, building lights, and streetlights. Residents must cover windows to prevent light from escaping and dim or shield vehicle headlights. The drill also requires hiding critical infrastructure. Another round of sirens at 4:30 p.m. will mark the end of the exercise. Throughout the drill, authorities urge the public to cooperate fully.