India prepares for fallout of Pahalgam attack with nationwide war drills on May 7

The Defence Ministry has also stepped up ammunition production and cancelled military leaves.

India is preparing to avenge the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, with the Union Home Ministry on Monday asking states and Union Territories to carry out war mock drills on May 7 to ensure civil defence mechanisms are in place to sustain possible retaliation from Pakistan.

Among the measures MHA has sought states and UTs to comply with are the operationalisation of air raid warning sirens, crash blackouts, and training civilians and students to activate comprehensive civil defence instruments as protection in the event of a hostile attack.

Steps like providing for early camouflaging of vital installations and updating and rehearsing evacuation plans are also part of the standard operating procedures outlined by the Centre.

Some sensitive locations have already started war mock drills to analyse the response in case of an eventuality.

A 30-minute rehearsal for blackout was conducted in the entire Ferozepur Cantonment area, situated close to India-Pakistan border on Sunday amid increase in hostilities between the two countries post the Pahalgam terror attack.

“The blackout was from 9 pm to 9:30 pm. As per the orders of the senior officers, lights were fully switched off. If any vehicle was found with its light turned on, it was turned off…Police are fully alert. Deployment has been made at all intersections,” said Gurjant Singh, SHO, Ferozepur Cantt Police Station.

It was conducted according to the guidelines of the station commander of the Ferozepur Cantonment Board.

The government is taking a ‘whole of nation’ approach to preparing for war if Pakistan retaliates to India’s offensive to avenge the massacre of 26 tourists in Pahalgam, Kashmir.

Steps up ammunition production and cancelled military leaves

The Defence Ministry has told defence Public Sector Undertakings, including Munitions India Limited, to ramp up ammunition production and has cancelled leave for defence personnel, including officers and jawans of the tri-services.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the armed forces complete operational freedom to decide on the mode, targets, and timing of India’s response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

Modi met with Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh on Monday for over an hour and a half to reportedly discuss preparedness ahead of India’s likely response against Pakistan-based terrorists and their backers.

This is the third meeting the Defence Secretary has had with the PM since the April 22 terror attack. It comes a day after Modi met individually with Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh. Before that, the PM also met Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi in a series of confidential confabulations he has had with the top brass of the defence and security establishment.

Meanwhile, the government, to stifle Pakistan financially and strategically, has already announced that it is holding the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance and cancelled all bilateral trade to send a strong message to Pakistan.