Air raid siren tested amid security review of Capital

Testing of air raid sirens installed at PWD headquarters in New Delhi
| Photo Credit: SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP

CM Rekha Gupta meets senior health officials to review emergency preparations at city hospitals

  Satvika Mahajan, Samridhi Tewari

NEW DELHI

Delhi witnessed heightened security activity on Friday with an air raid siren being tested at the Public Works Department (PWD) building in ITO and all vital installations coming under increased surveillance as the Capital continues to bolster its emergency preparedness.

The testing follows the civil defence mock drills, simulating multiple hostile scenarios, which were held last week as part of the nationwide ‘Operation Abhyaas’, amid rising India-Pakistan tensions after the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives.

Authorities are now planning to install more such sirens, set up control rooms, and conduct mock drills citywide. The Directorate of Civil Defence said in a press note that sirens will be tested at various locations and requested citizens not to panic during these exercises.

PWD Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh said40 to 50 air raid sirens will be installed on prominent multi-storey buildings throughout the city. “The sirens are intended to serve as a crucial warning system during emergencies. All sirens will be centrally operated from a dedicated command centre and will be managed under the authority of the National Disaster Management Authority,” he said.

The Minister added, “The siren tested today could be heard up to eight kilometres. In the event of an emergency, the sirens will sound for five minutes to alert the public, so they can immediatelyseek shelter under tables or in basements.” The plan to install air raid sirens across Delhi marks a significant advancement in its civil defenceinfrastructure, Mr. Singh also said.

Authorities have also enhanced coordination with disaster response agencies to ensure coverage of all key and sensitive locations.

In tandem, mock drills, awareness programmes, and deployment of civil defence volunteers across the city are being intensified to enhance readiness.

Vital installations

Delhi Police has beefed up security across all vital installations, including government buildings, foreign embassies, water and sewage treatment plants, and courts. Security at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium has been stepped up after a review following a threat e-mail to the facility, which later turned out to be a hoax. Areas with high footfall — metro stations, malls, markets, and railway stations — are now under increased surveillance.

Online classes

Meanwhile, several private schools have opted to shift to online classes as a temporary safety measure . According to a senior officer, all leave applications of Delhi Police personnel and the Delhi government employees have been cancelled, and night patrols have been intensified. 

“We have enhanced night vigil and deployed additional paramilitary forces in sensitive zones,” said the officer. Bomb disposal squads have also conducted anti-sabotage sweeps at several high-risk locations. Vehicles entering the Capital are undergoing thorough checks. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta held a meeting with senior health officials during the day to review the availability of medicines and staff at hospitals and ensure the facilities’ readiness for “any situation”.