In response to the heightened tensions with Pakistan following last month’s deadly attack in Pahalgam, the Union Home Ministry has directed multiple states to conduct a large-scale civil defence drill on May 7 (Wednesday).

As part of this preparedness exercise, air raid sirens will be tested, and civilians, including schoolchildren, will receive basic training on how to stay safe during potential hostile attacks. Authorities have also been asked to review and rehearse evacuation protocols to ensure swift action in the event of an emergency. The mock drill will span 244 civil districts across the country.

To oversee preparations, the Centre has scheduled a coordination meeting on Tuesday, led by the Union Home Secretary. Chief Secretaries from states and Union Territories are expected to participate via video conference, along with representatives from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Railway Board, and Air Defence.

This countrywide drill advisory comes at a time of escalating hostilities along the Line of Control (LoC), where the Pakistan Army has been engaging in nightly cross-border firing for the past 11 days. The Indian Army has returned fire in response to these provocations.

Tensions flared after a brutal shooting incident in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where gunmen linked to Pakistan-based terror outfits targeted tourists, killing 26 people, including one Nepali citizen. The attack marked the deadliest in the region since the 2019 Pulwama bombing of paramilitary forces.

Amid fears of an Indian counterstrike, Pakistan has reportedly heightened its military alertness, reinforced its border defences, and carried out missile trials. Some Pakistani leaders have issued warnings of retaliation against what they term a possible "Indian misadventure."

India, meanwhile, has implemented a range of diplomatic and strategic countermeasures. These include suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, banning Pakistani airlines from its airspace, and severing other bilateral agreements. Pakistan has responded in kind, including pausing cooperation under the Simla Agreement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has chaired multiple high-level discussions following the Pahalgam massacre. Sources say he has granted full autonomy to the armed forces in deciding how and when to retaliate. In a firm statement, Modi vowed to hunt down those responsible for the attack — including the perpetrators, their handlers, and those sheltering them — declaring that justice will be pursued "to the ends of the earth."