{
  "id": 14583863,
  "title": "Don’t panic, it’s a test: Why air raid sirens are back, 17 months after ‘Operation Sindoor’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/dont-panic-its-a-test-why-air-raid-sirens-are-back-17-months-after",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-15T01:30:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/india/air-raid-sirens-back-after-operation-sindoor-10922127/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The civic body of Mumbai announced a brief press note on October 7, requesting citizens not to panic or misunderstand the sound of sirens in the Fort area on October 8 and 9. The test was pre-planned, with no actual emergency or threat. Similar tests had been carried out in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer and Bihar, just days prior. The Mumbai test was part of a nationwide exercise.\n\nAfter Operation Sindoor, states rushed to buy air raid sirens without proper specifications. The Central government now aims to replace this patchwork with a single, advanced air raid warning system, which can be activated with a text message. The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), is leading the effort, working with the Director General, Civil Defence, New Delhi.\n\nThe trials commenced in border states like Rajasthan, then moved to coastal states such as Maharashtra, and are likely to proceed to Punjab. Officials observe various aspects like the sound's reach, duration, technical connectivity, and the specific needs of the local area. The prototype undergoes scrutiny at each stop to determine if any changes are necessary before finalizing it as the device for \"centralised siren triggering.\"\n\nThe push for a unified system emerged from the tense weeks following the Pahalgam terror attack in April. Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7, targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Pakistan responded with drone and missile attacks on Indian border areas, leading to a ceasefire on May 10. Civil defense mock drills were conducted in 244 districts across the country, marking the first such nationwide exercise in decades. Air raid sirens played a crucial role in these drills, instilling fear about potential attacks.\n\nHowever, many places had long-silent sirens. States purchased new sirens without specifications after Operation Sindoor, fearing a threat. Once the urgency subsided, the focus shifted to uniformity. The new prototype uses cell broadcast technology developed by C-DOT, which was previously used for nationwide disaster alerts. The system is being tested in Mumbai at the Old Secretariat Annexe Building, demonstrating real-time, centralized, and geo-targeted dissemination of cell broadcast messages that can trigger sirens in specific areas. Technical parameters like sound output and activation are being assessed to enhance the system's effectiveness.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Mumbai conducted air raid siren test on October 8-9, 2023",
    "Test part of nationwide exercise following Operation Sindoor",
    "Central government aims to replace patchwork siren system"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Testing this centralized prototype across various states signals a shift from the uncoordinated, reactive siren purchases made by local governments toward a unified, technologically advanced national warning infrastructure.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express - India",
        "title": "Don’t panic, it’s a test: Why air raid sirens are back, 17 months after ‘Operation Sindoor’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/dont-panic-its-a-test-why-air-raid-sirens-are-back-17-months-after-14586403",
        "published": "2026-10-15T01:30:23.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}