Mock Drills
National News: While the world scrolls through reels and headlines, India is rehearsing a reality that could unfold any evening. Under the codename Operation Shield, six key border regions — Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Jammu & Kashmir — have transformed into zones of coordinated emergency exercises. Between 5 pm and 9 pm, cities dim their lights, sirens scream through the dusk, and civilians are ushered into bunkers. But what’s most deafening is the silence coming from India’s leadership. No speeches, no bravado. Just action.
From Jammu’s bunkers to the alleys of Valsad, sirens and mock explosions now punctuate the evenings. The lights go out — not from failure, but as a message. During these 15 minutes of planned blackout, India is not only assessing its own preparedness but also unsettling its neighbors. Pakistan, though not explicitly mentioned, has been observing with increasing anxiety.
Akhnoor, the border town that has faced real shells, saw a simulation of airstrikes where emergency crews raced to ‘rescue’ victims. Local residents, many of whom have memories of actual bombings, say the line between drill and dread is thin. “It felt like 2019 again,” murmurs a retired soldier.
In Jaipur, panic was choreographed. Blasts, gunfire, ambulances — every beat rehearsed with precision. People ran, fell, screamed, and were lifted by trained hands into emergency tents. But beyond the actors, real lessons were being learned. In a city known for its heritage, survival has now entered the curriculum.
In Patan, a government office was set ablaze for training. Inside, ‘trapped’ civilians were pulled out by NDRF teams as drones buzzed overhead. Nearby, loudspeakers announced mock air raid alerts — a sound not heard here since the 1971 war. Here, from 8 to 8:15 pm, homes went pitch dark. No phones lit up, no headlights roamed. This collective blackout tested how seamlessly a city could vanish into shadows. It’s not just defence; it’s discipline. And it frightened those who aren’t used to India rehearsing with such precision.
Sector 47's community centre turned into a triage hub. 20 ‘injured’ were processed, blood units readied, emergency wards mobilised. Young NCC and NSS volunteers stood shoulder to shoulder with doctors. It wasn’t real, but it was serious.
This isn’t about saber-rattling or pre-election optics. India isn’t flexing muscles for show. It’s building muscle memory. While Islamabad counts ceasefire days, New Delhi counts seconds between alarm and action. Mock drills are not mock threats. They’re war rehearsals. Quiet, calculated, and chillingly effective. India isn’t screaming about its strength — it’s silently demonstrating it. And in the darkness of every blackout drill, there’s a spark that tells the world: when the time comes, we won’t need to react. We’ll be ready.
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