Hyderabad: A mock drill was carried out in Hyderabad on Wednesday as part of a nationwide security preparedness initiative ordered by the central government. The exercise, called Operation Abhyas, was organised by the city police to raise public awareness on emergency response protocols amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.
The mock drill began at 4 p.m., with sirens sounding across multiple areas of the city. Sirens were activated near major junctions, residential complexes, and government buildings. The objective was to familiarise both civilians and emergency responders with procedures to follow in the event of an actual crisis, including air raids.
Civil mock drills were conducted at four key locations in Hyderabad: Nanalnagar, Kanchanbagh, Secunderabad, and the NFC area near ECIL. The drills involved personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Defence Ministry, and Fire Department. Senior officials supervised the drill operations remotely from the Command Control Centre.
In Secunderabad, Golkonda, Kanchanbagh DRDO, and Moula Ali NFC, officials explained safety measures to be followed in case of an aerial attack. Twelve officers from the Civil Defence Services took part in the awareness sessions, which lasted around 30 minutes.
As part of the operation, sirens were also heard at locations such as Maredpally in Secunderabad, Telangana Secretariat Junction, Kacheguda Railway Station, and near the Cyber Towers in Hitech City. At the Secretariat Junction, fire department officials activated sirens for two minutes.
The initiative was launched in response to the deteriorating security situation following the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam. With tensions running high between India and Pakistan, the Union Home Ministry instructed security agencies to conduct drills in 259 locations across 244 districts nationwide, all starting simultaneously at 4 p.m.
The objective of the drills was to improve coordination among agencies and ensure that the public is informed about basic survival measures during national emergencies.
Earlier in the day, Hyderabad Police Commissioner CV Anand held a press briefing on Wednesday to provide an update on the city’s security arrangements under Operation Abhyas, a nationwide emergency preparedness exercise. The operation was launched following central government directives in the wake of rising tensions with Pakistan.
CV Anand, who has been appointed as the nodal officer for peace and security following the Operation Sindoor, stated that security across Hyderabad has been significantly strengthened. Defence offices within the city have been placed under high alert, and heightened measures have been introduced in both civil and defence zones.