Operation Shield’s second phase, a comprehensive nationwide civil defence security drill, will take place today, Saturday, May 31, across key border states and Union Territories, including Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Chandigarh. The exercise, overseen by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, aims to bolster emergency preparedness amid heightened security concerns along India’s western border, particularly after the Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent Operation Sindoor.
Key highlights of today’s drill:
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Jammu:
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Blackout drill from 8:00 PM to 8:15 PM.
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Citizens must switch off all lights, cover windows, and stay calm during sirens.
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Chandigarh:
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Blackout from 8:00 PM to 8:10 PM in Kishangarh and I.T. Park.
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A simulated drone attack and evacuation of 20 civilians in Sector 47.
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Emergency services will be tested with 30 units of blood on standby and medical teams deployed.
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Ahmedabad (Shahibaug Cantonment and Viramgam):
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Activities start at 5:00 PM, including air raid simulations, volunteer mobilisation, communication system tests, and evacuation drills.
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Blackout scheduled at 7:45 PM.
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Amritsar:
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Security drill from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
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Followed by a 30-minute blackout from 8:00 PM to 8:30 PM.
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Residents advised to remain indoors with lights off.
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The drill was postponed earlier in Haryana, Rajasthan, and Chandigarh on Thursday due to administrative delays but is now set for full execution.
Operation Shield was launched after the May 7 drills, hours before Operation Sindoor—to strengthen India's civil defence response to modern threats, including drone and missile attacks. The current phase targets inter-agency coordination, public alertness, and emergency infrastructure readiness.
Volunteers from the NCC, NSS, NGOs, Home Guards, and Border Wing units will actively participate, and funding has been released via the State Disaster Response Force to support these efforts.
Authorities urge citizens to treat this as a critical national exercise, follow blackout protocols, and not panic during sirens or simulations.
