With the spectre of military escalation looming between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack, the Odisha government has begun proactive preparations for large-scale civil defence drills scheduled for May 7, 2025.
Acting on a nationwide directive from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, Odisha will conduct mock drills across 12 strategically sensitive districts, simulating wartime emergency scenarios, including air raids, blackouts, evacuations, and rescue operations.
Key Locations & Categories of Risk
The Ministry of Defence has categorised districts based on their strategic importance:
-
Category 1: Talcher
-
Category 2: Balasore, Koraput, Bhubaneswar, Gopalpur, Hirakud, Rourkela, Paradip
-
Category 3: Bhadrak, Dhenkanal, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara
These 12 districts will host comprehensive drills near key industrial sites, defence zones, and transport hubs. Additional areas such as Cuttack, Puri, and Paradip port may also witness drills due to their strategic significance.
Residents in affected zones will receive advance alerts, and officials urge public cooperation. Authorities stress that the drills are preventive measures, not cause for panic, and aim to enhance public awareness, civilian preparedness, and inter-agency coordination.
Odisha’s actions are part of a broader nationwide civil defence rehearsal involving all 244 categorised Civil Defence Districts in India. The initiative seeks to bolster coordination between civil authorities and the armed forces in response to hostile threats, particularly airborne attacks.
