New Delhi: Civil defence mock drill, codenamed Operation Shield, scheduled for May 29 in Gujarat and other states bordering Pakistan, has been postponed, the central government announced on Wednesday. The exercise, aimed at bolstering preparedness against potential cross-border attacks, was deferred due to administrative reasons.

The drill was to be carried out in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, and Jammu & Kashmir — regions that recently came under intense shelling during a four-day conflict along the western frontier. Officials said fresh dates will be communicated shortly, and necessary instructions will be issued to Civil Defence Controllers and related agencies in due course.

The main objectives of Operation Shield include testing the functionality of control rooms, air raid warning systems, and evaluating the readiness of key civil defence services such as warden units, firefighting teams, rescue squads, depot operations, and evacuation protocols. Blackouts and simulated air raids were also part of the planned exercise, with citizens expected to participate voluntarily through government portal registrations.

In Gujarat, drills were to be held in all districts with a focus on civilian protection strategies in the event of an aerial assault. The state government had also encouraged public participation by urging residents to register as civil defence volunteers.

Punjab has already proposed June 3 as the new date for its drill, aligning it with an ongoing training program being conducted by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). A senior police official confirmed the Centre has approved Punjab’s plan, and all deputy commissioners in the state have been directed to ensure the drill is executed across districts. DeshGujarat