2 min readSrinagarApr 23, 2026 12:18 AM IST
The Jammu and Kashmir government has announced mock drills and air raid blackouts in several districts of the Valley this week. The mock drills will be conducted by J-K’s Civil Defence for “emergency preparedness and safety training”.
The Deputy Commissioner (DCs) — who also act as Chairmen of the District Disaster Management Authority — of Kupwara, Anantnag and Ganderbal have issued public notices asking people to switch off lights in the evening on drill days.
“The District Administration Kupwara informs the general public that Civil Defence Air Raid Blackout Mock exercise is scheduled to be conducted… as part of District wide emergency preparedness and safety training,” reads a notice issued by Deputy Commissioner Kupwara Srikanat Balasaheb Suse. “This exercise aims to familiarise citizens with emergency response protocols during blackout or crisis situations and to evaluate the readiness of the public and administration”.
The notice says that a mock drill would be carried out in the afternoon on April 24 while the blackout would be carried out between 8 to 8.10 in the evening.
The notice has asked the people to “switch off all lights and sources of illumination immediately after the siren sounds”, asked them to “draw curtains in windows to prevent light emission” and “inform and prepare elderly, children and persons with health concerns to avoid distress or panic”. The notice reads that all emergency services and critical care facilities will remain functional during the exercise.
While seeking the cooperation of people, the notice has a disclaimer written in bold: “Do not panic, this is a mick drill, not a real emergency”.
A similar worded public notice has been issued by Deputy Commissioner Anantnag informing the general public about the mock drill and air raid blackout exercise on April 23. A similar exercise is being conducted in Ganderbal district on April 23.
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The mock drills and air raid blackouts have come exactly a year after such drills were conducted in Jammu and Kashmir before the Operation Sindoor that triggered a brief war between India and Pakistan.
