The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has ordered states across India, including Maharashtra, to conduct nationwide civil defence mock drills on May 7. These exercises will assess 244 cities’ preparedness for potential hostile attacks. These safety training exercises are a result of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, following the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, 2025.
On May 7, the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor, a missile strike that struck down 9 targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, identified as terror camps.
Which locations in Mumbai and Thane will conduct mock drills?
The state government has confirmed mock drills will be held at 4pm on Wednesday, May 7 in Mumbai. The following locations in the Mumbai district will conduct security exercises:
- Cross Maidan will host the largest security exercise
- Gateway of India
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT)
- Shivaji Park
- Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
Thane district will conduct drills at Kalyan
Palghar district will also run a civil defence drill at the Tarapur Atomic Power Station
Ratanagiri has scheduled drills at the district collectorate, Rajapur and the Ratnagiri jetty
Sindhudurg will conduct blackouts and activate air raid sirens
What to expect during drills in Mumbai?
Expect spot checks and tighter security protocols at public places like beaches, places of worship and railway stations – a mock drill was carried out at Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus on May 6 by the Railway Police Force (RPF), Maharashtra Security Force (MSF) and Government Railway Police (GRP).
These drills will simulate wartime scenarios and test the effectiveness of emergency responses in the event of aerial or cross-border attacks. Air raid sirens will be activated to test warning systems that alert citizens. Some locations may experience blackouts and temporary power shutdowns.
Local authorities may also carry out evacuation and relocation rehearsals after giving residents a heads-up via public announcements. Hotlines and radio communication links with the Indian Air Force will be made operational.
Hospitals will train on how to prepare for casualties and provide medical attention.
Civil defence volunteers will guide citizens on how to reach hospitals and safe houses in the event of war during these drills, Prabhat Kumar, director of Mahrashtra Civil Defence, said to Hindustan Times.
Who will conduct the mock drills?
An extensive team of district controllers, police, paramilitary forces, home guards, NCC cadets, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Maharashtra Maritime Board, Customs and Coast Guard, firefighters, and first responders will coordinate and execute these mock drills.
Educational institutions like schools and colleges will conduct emergency response training for teachers and students. In Maharashtra, the Civil Defence of Maharashtra and all agencies under the collector will run these drills, said Prabhat Kumar, the Director of Maharashtra Civil Defence.
Which other Maharashtra districts will hold mock drills?
In Maharashtra, 16 key locations across 8 districts, such as Pune, Nashik and Aurangabad, have been instructed to conduct safety training by the Maharashtra State Government based on the civil defence categories they fall into.
What are the categories?
Cities across India have been classified into three zones based on their strategic importance and sensitivity – Category 1, Category 2 and Category 3. This is how the classification applies in Maharashtra:
Category 1
Highly Sensitive locations are part of this category and include:
1. Mumbai city, India’s financial hub
2. Tarapur, the site of a nuclear facility in Palghar district
3. Uran, the location of Jawaharlal Nehru Port, India’s second-largest port in Navi Mumbai
Category 2
4. Pune
5. Nashik
6. Thane
7. Roha-Nagothane
8. Manmad
9. Sinnar
10. Thal Vaishet
11. Pimpiri-Chinchwad
Category 3
12. Aurangabad
13. Bhusawal
14. Raigad
15. Ratnagiri
16. Sindhudurg
Should Mumbaikars be worried?
While this being India’s first large-scale security drill exercise since the 1971 Indo-Pak war hints at the seriousness of the situation, these exercises don’t signal any immediate conflict, the Hindustan Times reports. The objective of these drills is to test each state’s civil defence mechanisms and disaster management protocols during a potential national emergency as part of the Civil Defence Rules, 1968.
Other Indian cities and states conducting mock drills
Other key locations such as Delhi, Chennai, Lucknow, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Goa, Amritsar and Kolkata will also be participating in these country-wide mock drills on May 7. Find the full list here.