Mock Drill In Bengaluru, Raichur And Karwar on May 7 (canva)
The drills, to be completed by 4 pm, aim to test emergency response systems, familiarise civilians with protective measures during hostile situations, and camouflage strategic installations.
Why These Cities?
Speaking to reporters, Prashant Kumar Thakur, who heads the Home Guards, Civil Defence and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), explained why these locations have been chosen. “Bengaluru is a cosmopolitan city with a high population, whereas in Raichur, there is a thermal power plant, and Karwar has the Kaiga nuclear power plant,” he said, as per TIE report.
Bengaluru, dubbed India’s Silicon Valley, is home to major IT and biotech industries, and key national institutions including the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Yelahanka Air Force Base, and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). These make it a high-value target and a crucial city in any emergency scenario.
In coastal Karwar, the Kaiga Atomic Power Station (KAPS) — India’s third-largest nuclear facility — and INS Kadamba, a key naval base, add to the strategic importance. Meanwhile, Raichur hosts Karnataka’s first thermal power station, which produces a significant 70% of the state’s electricity.
A Force Revived
Thakur highlighted the renewed focus on civil defence. “The civil defence force was trained and prepared during the 1971 Indo-Pak war, but later, such activities had come to a halt. Now, according to the MHA’s directions, the civil defence forces will be activated. We have had meetings with MHA officials via video conference,” he added.
Different Drill Protocol for Karnataka
A senior police officer said Karnataka cities fall under category B, meaning the mock drills here will differ from those in states bordering Pakistan, China, or Bangladesh. The focus will be more on internal preparedness rather than border security, as per the report.
The drills will not only test the coordination among police, emergency services and defence personnel but also aim to familiarise students, civilians, and employees at sensitive facilities with basic survival protocols and response mechanisms.
As India sharpens its internal security apparatus amid external threats, Tuesday’s mock drills are a sobering reminder of the need for vigilance — and a rehearsal for resilience.