𝐉&𝐊 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐞 ‘𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝’ 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥

Srinagar, May 31: Jammu and Kashmir conducted a large-scale mock drill on Saturday as part of the nationwide Civil Defence Exercise, ‘Operation Shield,’ designed to test emergency preparedness against possible hostile threats. The exercise saw joint efforts from civil administration, police, SDRF, fire services, and emergency medical teams.

Drills were held simultaneously across major districts in both Kashmir and Jammu regions. In Kashmir Valley, Srinagar, Baramulla, Anantnag, and Kulgam participated, while Poonch, Rajouri, Doda, and Kathua took part in the Jammu division. Each district simulated various emergency scenarios such as air raids, drone attacks, mass casualty management, and urban evacuations.

The main drill in Srinagar took place at the Amar Niwas Complex, the Deputy Commissioner’s office. It featured a full-scale mock evacuation, coordinated rescue efforts, and emergency response preparations to reflect real-time readiness for aerial threats. The drill was overseen by DC Srinagar Dr. Bilal Mohi-Ud-Din Bhat, who also heads the District Disaster Management Authority, emphasizing the importance of readiness and addressing critical emergency gaps to protect residents and key installations.

An 8 pm blackout drill was also conducted nationwide, simulating emergency protocols during an aerial attack. Residents were informed in advance to avoid panic, with air raid sirens, emergency announcements, and power outages included in the exercise.

This operation comes in the wake of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians and highlights the government’s renewed focus on strengthening civil and administrative readiness for large-scale emergencies. ‘Operation Shield’ aims to integrate civil defence with military and emergency services for quick, coordinated responses to safeguard lives and infrastructure during man-made or natural disasters.

Officials stated the drill improved inter-agency coordination, exposed response weaknesses, and raised public awareness, contributing to a stronger, more prepared security framework across Jammu and Kashmir.