Test and activate air raid sirens; identify vulnerable areas and vital installations prone to military attacks; create emergency shelters, and sensitise the public — authorities in Delhi have been ordered to take extensive precautionary measures amid the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.
Officials said district magistrates of the Capital’s 11 districts have been directed to invoke the Civil Defence Plan. “Civil defence plans are invoked in war-like situations. Under this, the government issues a call to 550 Civil Defence Volunteers… In the preparatory stage, they are trained… on how to help the public, rescue and take them to a safe area…,” said a senior official.
Civil Defence Volunteers participated last in the 1971 war, said officials. “Fifty volunteers each have been inducted per district. They are being trained daily and are included in mock drills like testing and operating air raid sirens, what to do if a civilian is injured, how to perform CPR etc…,” said officials.
Officials added that security coverage in vulnerable, high-risk, and densely populated areas is crucial (Express/Amit Mehra)
Officials said 3,000-4,000 more volunteers will be roped in, if required.
The recent mock drills were part of this plan — the public was trained on what to do when such an emergency-like situation arises. Testing and installation of air raid sirens are done during the preparatory stages, to create public awareness and inform the public about loss of power supply, etc, explained the official.
Meanwhile, district magistrates have been told to take several important measures, such as preparing a list of schools, community halls, and basements that can double up as emergency shelters, if required, said officials.
They have also been asked to invoke the disaster management plan, procure, install, activate and test integrated public warning sirens which are robust enough to be operated in challenging environments like loss of power supply, etc. Other methods, like public address systems and mobile-based groups, may also be incorporated to help warn the public.
Officials added that security coverage in vulnerable, high-risk, and densely populated areas is crucial.
Further, the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), district, and state-level control rooms have been directed to remain operational 24×7. “The EOCs have been directed to ensure that updated contact lists, communication equipment, and coordination protocols are in place for inter-agency response and activation (and deactivation) of warning sirens, emergency support functions… and establish hotlines with other agencies including local military authorities on priority, if not already done,” said officials.
Air raid sirens tested
As per officials, districts have installed air raid sirens on the rooftops of high-rise buildings.
An empty Kartavya Path around noon, Friday (Express/Praveen Khanna)
In the Central district, air raid sirens, installed at the PWD headquarters in ITO on Friday, were tested for 15-20 minutes at 3 pm. The New Delhi district will carry out similar trials of air raid sirens installed on the rooftop of the NDMC Palika Kendra on Saturday.
A senior official said, “Existing sirens, which have a reach up to 3 km, have been installed. A total of 7 are installed in the New Delhi district at the Palika Bhawan, NDMC headquarters etc. Districts have ordered high-range sirens which will have the capacity to reach 10 km… Three in each district will cover the entire area.”
A total of 27 new air raid sirens are being procured.
The Southwest district, meanwhile, has installed manual and electrical sirens at BPCL, Bijwasan, Vegas Mall Dwarka, Uttam Nagar police station, Dwarka Mor Metro station, India Gandhi Hospital in Dwarka Sector 10, Dwarka Sector 21 Metro station, and Najafgarh SDM office.
Officials said district magistrates of the Capital’s 11 districts have been directed to invoke the Civil Defence Plan (Express/Mohd Atif)
“Coordinated rehearsals of activation of sirens and blackout drills will be carried out to improve the overall protective posture of the community with due focus on schools, RWAs, panchayats, market associations, etc, through a focused campaign,” said an official.
Delhi PWD Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh stated that 40-50 air raid sirens will be installed on prominent multi-storey buildings throughout the city. These sirens will have a range of up to 4 km. “The Delhi government is working closely with disaster response agencies to ensure that all key and sensitive locations are covered and that public awareness protocols are effectively communicated,” he said.
Officials said the Delhi government had decided to procure 500 sirens to be installed across the city and train 1,800 Apada Mitras (friends for disaster management) through an agency suggested by the National Disaster Management Authority.
“All districts have been directed to prepare detailed plans as per these points and directions, whichever applies to their district, and share these with the divisional commissioner and Delhi government,” said a senior official.
Security was strengthened on Friday across major monuments and historical places in Delhi. Police also increased vigil in areas with high footfall, including markets, railway stations, malls, parks and Metro stations (PTI) 
Officials added that security coverage in vulnerable, high-risk, and densely populated areas is crucial (Express/Amit Mehra)
An empty Kartavya Path around noon, Friday (Express/Praveen Khanna)
Officials said district magistrates of the Capital’s 11 districts have been directed to invoke the Civil Defence Plan (Express/Mohd Atif)
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