Delhi to test air raid sirens amid escalating India-Pakistan tension

Amid the heightened India-Pakistan tension, the Directorate of Civil Defence will test air raid sirens at the Public Works Department (PWD) Headquarters in Delhi’s ITO at 3 PM today. The test will last 15–20 minutes.

The drill, aimed at ensuring the readiness of critical defence systems, comes in the wake of the escalating conflict between India and Pakistan following the deadly Pahalgam killings.

The terror attack on April 22, in which 26 civilians were killed in Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley, has reignited the long-standing India-Pakistan conflict over the region. India has accused Pakistan of supporting the attackers, linked to the terror organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba—a charge Islamabad denies.

The attack, described as the deadliest on civilians since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, prompted swift retaliatory measures from New Delhi, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, closure of the Wagah-Attari border, and expulsion of Pakistani diplomats.

Tensions have since escalated into near-daily military confrontations along the Line of Control (LoC). Since late April, both sides have engaged in intense exchanges of small-arms fire and missile strikes.

On May 6, India launched “Operation Sindoor,” targeting nine terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), which it claimed were used to orchestrate the Pahalgam attack. The Indian Army described the strikes as “precise” and “non-escalatory,” avoiding Pakistani military installations, with the operation hailed on social media as delivering “justice”.

Pakistan, however, has retaliated, with reports of drone strikes and missile fire targeting Indian positions in Jammu and Kashmir. On May 9, India accused Pakistan of launching missile and drone attacks on two military bases in Kashmir and one in Punjab, while Pakistan claimed to have shot down 25 Indian drones overnight.

Also Read: Operation Sindoor: India carries out military strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan, PoK

The attacks and the counterattacks have raised fears of a broader conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

The siren test in Delhi has been initiated to ensure that the national capital remains prepared in case of any eventuality and to ensure the safety of its residents.