Security drill exposes gaps in Mumbai’s emergency alert system
RPF personnel during a drill at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus on May 6. Pic/Shadab Khan
Out of over 272 sirens installed across Mumbai, only around 39 are currently operational, according to officials from the Maharashtra Home Guard and Civil Defence. These functioning sirens are being used for drills following orders from the Director General of Fire Services and Home Guards under the Ministry of Home Affairs, to assess civil defence preparedness in the event of a war-like scenario.
The move comes in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack and amid heightened concerns over potential hostile situations. On Tuesday, the Maharashtra Home Guard and Civil Defence inspected sirens across the city and found only 39 in working condition. These will be tested today during drills held across all 24 BMC wards. Around 10,000 volunteers, along with trained personnel, will participate in the exercise, educating citizens on how to respond during a war-like emergency.
From 1965 to 1993, around 272 sirens were installed in Mumbai and 421 across Maharashtra. These included 19 in Thane, 75 in Pune, 22 in Nashik, 15 in Uran, and 21 in Tarapur. But today, only 39 are operational in Mumbai and just 15 elsewhere in the state—five in Thane, seven in Nashik, and eight in Uran.
Prabhat Kumar, Director of Civil Defence, Maharashtra, said, “We received instructions to conduct the drill on May 7 across Maharashtra. Sirens will go off in every BMC ward in Mumbai to alert the public. After the sirens ring, our volunteers will step out and, along with trained teams, spread awareness on how to act in a war situation. Citizens should immediately move to a safe location to protect themselves and others. We will also inform them about how to minimise loss of life and property.”
He added, “If a fire breaks out during such an event, citizens must call the fire brigade and assist rescue teams. The army is ready to handle such situations, but citizen cooperation, especially in using medical and fire services and helping others, is crucial. The sirens will go off in the evening in many areas.”
Explaining how the system works, an official said, “These sirens use three lights and emit a loud warning sound. In a war-like situation, a yellow light signals an alert phase, prompting our volunteers to guide citizens to safety. Though Mumbai lacks dedicated bunkers, there are many underground shelters that can be used during emergencies.”
“If the light turns red, citizens are advised to stay indoors, as this indicates danger. Rescue teams—NDRF, BMC, SDRF, NGOs, and volunteer groups—will swing into action. Injured individuals should be taken to hospitals using ambulances. Once the light turns green, it signals safety. During nighttime alerts, residents should avoid using lights or giving any indication of occupancy.”
The officer added that beggars and homeless individuals will be moved to shelters in schools, colleges, or BMC offices. “District collectors and agencies will distribute food and medicine. All this information is being relayed to citizens through the drills.”
The sirens can be heard over 1.5 km in densely populated areas and further in quieter zones. Maintenance is handled by the Public Works Department (PWD) of Maharashtra. Maharashtra’s Civil Defence and Home Guard authorities have also decided to conduct similar drills across all 244 designated Civil Defence districts in India today.
These exercises extend to the village level, aiming to test and strengthen civil defence mechanisms across states and Union Territories. Active participation is expected from District Controllers, local authorities, civil defence wardens, Home Guards (active and reservists), NCC, NSS, NYKS and school/college students. The goal is to evaluate both operational readiness and coordination.
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