Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, Delhi has tested its air raid sirens to ensure emergency preparedness. The Directorate of Civil Defence conducted the test at the Public Works Department (PWD) headquarters in ITO on Friday, May 9, 2025. The exercise, which lasted approximately 15 to 20 minutes, aimed to inform the public and prevent panic through widespread publicity.

The siren testing comes in the wake of intensified hostilities between India and Pakistan, including missile attacks and shelling, following a deadly attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, on April 22, 2025, which resulted in 26 fatalities. An armed group called The Resistance Front (TRF), demanding independence for Kashmir, claimed responsibility for the attack, with India alleging the group has ties to Pakistan.

In response to the Pahalgam attack, India launched "Operation Sindoor" on May 7, 2025, carrying out missile strikes on multiple targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Pakistan claims the strikes hit civilian areas, resulting in casualties. Since then, both sides have accused each other of launching missiles and drone attacks.

Delhi PWD minister Parvesh Verma stated that 40 to 50 additional sirens would be installed atop multi-story and high-rise buildings across the capital. These sirens will be used in emergency situations, including blackouts, and will be controlled by a central command center under the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The siren tested on Friday has a range of approximately eight kilometers.

The government has urged the public to remain calm and not panic during the testing exercises. The district magistrate of central Delhi, G. Sudhakar, assured residents that the sirens were part of a scheduled test. The Directorate of Information and Publicity has also taken measures to raise awareness through social and electronic media to avoid public confusion.

In addition to Delhi, air raid sirens were also sounded in Chandigarh on Friday morning, following an air warning from the local Air Force station regarding a potential attack. Reports also indicate that sirens were heard in Jammu, where a blackout was enforced.

The current escalation marks a dangerous turn in the long-standing tensions between India and Pakistan. The international community has expressed deep concern, urging both sides to exercise restraint. The United Nations has warned that the "world cannot afford a military confrontation between India and Pakistan". As tensions remain high, Delhi's preparedness measures, including the air raid siren tests, underscore the seriousness of the situation and the need for vigilance.