Mock drill across India: What are the timings for blackouts and sirens?

A massive India mock drill is set to take place on Wednesday, May 7, across 244 locations, as part of a nationwide preparedness exercise.

The war drill being termed as Operation Abhyas, is being conducted in response to increasing political tensions and heightened threats, particularly in the wake of the recent Pahalgam terror attack. Follow mock drill live updates 

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has ordered the exercise to test readiness for a possible India-Pakistan war scenario.

This mock drill will simulate air raids, blackouts, evacuations, and emergency rescue operations across 244 Civil Defence Districts. The goal is to prepare citizens and authorities for potential war situations and external attacks.

What are the timings of mock drill?

For those wondering about mock drill timing today, all major drills are expected to start at 4 PM on 7th May 2025 across India, with variations depending on local administration.

• Delhi: The mock drill are expected to run from 4 PM to 8 PM.
• Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh): Drill rescheduled to 4 PM, taking place at the Reserve Police Lines, as per SSP B Murthy.
• Bareilly (UP): A district-wide blackout will occur from 8 PM to 8:10 PM. DM Avinash Singh has urged residents to turn off lights, inverters, and avoid using phones or flashlights.
• Kerala: Mock drills in 14 districts will begin at 4 PM, according to official sources.
• Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh): Air raid simulation at Kotha Jalaripeta will begin at 4 PM. A blackout will follow at 7 PM in Kotha Jalaripeta and Oxygen Towers.
• Dehradun (Uttarakhand): At 4 PM, sirens and hooters will sound at five key locations including Dhara Police Chowki and the District Magistrate Complex.
• Kalpakkam (Tamil Nadu): The drill at Madras Atomic Power Station and Chennai Port Trust will be held from 4 PM to 4:30 PM.

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What will happen on 7th May?

On May 7, the government is conducting a nationwide mock drill to test and reinforce interagency coordination and assess the community’s preparedness for war-time or large-scale disaster scenarios. The exercise includes activities such as the blaring of sirens and short blackouts in several regions to simulate emergency conditions and evaluate response systems.

What is the blackout about?

The blackout is part of a nationwide mock drill being conducted by the government to test emergency preparedness and response. The exercise includes sirens and brief, planned blackouts across 244 locations in India.

What time is the mock drill in India?

The mock drill in India began at 4:00 PM on May 7, 2025, across multiple locations. However, blackout timings vary by region, as determined by local administrative authorities. Citizens are advised to check local notifications for specific timings in their area.

Why is the blackout happening?

The mock drill aims to simulate emergency conditions, allowing authorities and citizens to assess readiness in case of real threats or disasters. It involves coordinated siren alerts and power blackouts to practice response protocols.

Blackout time in some cities

– Delhi: In the NDMC area of Delhi, including Lutyens' Garden and Connaught Place, there will be a complete blackout from 8:00 PM to 8:15 PM tonight. Rashtrapati Bhawan, the Prime Minister’s residence, and hospital ICUs will be exempt from the complete blackout in the NDMC area.

In some areas of Delhi, like the Select Citywalk mall of Saket, some stores observed a blackout around 7 pm.

– Mumbai: In Mumbai, the blackout is expected to take place 8 PM in the following areas: Anushakti Nagar, Govandi and Atomic Colony and Tarapur.

– Surat: Blackout exercise was held in Gujarat's Surat around a little before 8 pm as part of the mock drill ordered by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

– Patna: In Bihar's Patna, blackout was done from 7 pm for 10 minutes as part of the civil defence mock drill. After the siren was sounded, electricity was cut for 10 minutes from 7 pm and headlights of vehicles were also switched off.

– Other areas: Reports of blackouts from other parts of India like Assam's Guwahati and Uttar Pradesh's Noida also came in at around 7 pm.

– Gurugram: Haryana's Gurugram is expected to undergo a full-night blackout as part of the mock drill exercise, in order to fully experience a no-light zone, according to deputy commissioner Ajay Kumar.

These drills are designed to raise public awareness and strengthen India’s civil defence capabilities in the face of war-like threats. MHA said that this effort is part of the Integrated Response System (IRS) to protect citizens during emergencies such as an aerial attack.

The sirens, black outs, and evacuation protocols are being introduced at all levels—from major metros to village clusters—to ensure national preparedness.