Civil Defence drill ‘Operation Shield’ conducted across J&K

Srinagar, May 31: Jammu and Kashmir witnessed a large-scale mock drill on Saturday as part of the nationwide Civil Defence Exercise, ‘Operation Shield’, aimed at testing emergency preparedness in response to potential hostile threats. The exercise involved coordinated participation from civil administration, police, SDRF, fire services, and emergency medical teams.
The drills were simultaneously conducted across key districts in both the Kashmir and Jammu regions. In the Kashmir Valley, the districts of Srinagar, Baramulla, Anantnag, and Kulgam were actively involved, while in the Jammu division, similar operations were executed in Poonch, Rajouri, Doda, and Kathua. Each location simulated different emergency scenarios ranging from air raids and drone strikes to mass casualty management and urban evacuations.
In Srinagar, the central drill was conducted at the Amar Niwas Complex, the office of the Deputy Commissioner. The exercise included a full-scale mock evacuation, coordinated rescue operations, and an emergency response setup to mirror real-time preparedness in the event of an aerial threat. The exercise took place in presence of the Deputy Commissioner(DC) Srinagar, Dr. Bilal Mohi-Ud-Din Bhat who is also the Chairman of District Disaster Management Authority in bolstering readiness and addressing critical gaps to handle emergencies and ensure the safety of critical installations and residents in Srinagar District.
As part of the nationwide operation, an 8 pm blackout drill was conducted to simulate response protocols under conditions of aerial threat or attack. Residents had been alerted beforehand to prevent panic, with air raid sirens, emergency announcements, and power outages forming part of the coordinated simulation.
The operation, launched against the backdrop of heightened national security concerns following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, reflects the government’s renewed focus on strengthening civilian and administrative readiness for potential large-scale emergencies. ‘Operation Shield’ is part of a broader effort to integrate civil defence mechanisms with military and emergency services, ensuring swift, coordinated action to safeguard lives and critical infrastructure during both man-made and natural disasters.
Authorities stated that the drill successfully enhanced inter-agency coordination, identified response gaps, and increased public awareness, contributing to the larger goal of a resilient and well-prepared security ecosystem across Jammu and Kashmir.