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Tensions between India and Pakistan are high following the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed, creating a war-like situation between the two nations. The Indian government has announced a war preparedness nationwide mock drill to be conducted on May 7. This exercise aims to educate people on safety measures to be taken in the event of war and to familiarise them with air raid sirens. Across India, a total of 259 locations are scheduled to participate in the mock drill. This exercise will primarily concentrate on practising and training the initial response procedures for situations such as the sounding of air raid sirens and the implementation of blackouts. Notably, these drills mark the first such comprehensive exercises to be conducted in the country since 1971.
Sunil Gavaskar recalls food rationing during 1965 India-Pakistan war
Meanwhile, former Indian captain and batting great Sunil Gavaskar, during an exclusive interaction with Sports Tak YouTube channel, recalled living through during 1965 and 1971 war.
"I remember a lot about 1965. I was 15-16 years old, and when the war was ongoing, the Indian public was instructed to cover their windows after lighting lamps in the evening. We used black cloth to ensure no light was visible from outside. Those whose houses faced the sea were advised to use as little light as possible, preferably only torches and lamps. Sirens would go off frequently. At that time, we couldn't always tell if it was a mock drill or something else. But I clearly remember covering the windows and ventilation with black cloth," Gavaskar told Sports Tak YouTube channel
Continuing to talk about the preparedness of the people during the 1965 war, Gavaskar added:
"We were told to go outside as little as possible. Shelters were created in residential areas where people had to go after the sirens went off. These shelters were usually in basements. We were told that if your society had a basement, you should go there if you get to hear the sound of a siren."
"There was no fear in the mind of any Indian during the 1965 war. People received all the updates through All India Radio, as television was not very common then. The economic situation of the country was not very strong at that time, so Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri had appealed to people to eat only one meal a day."
"My father said that we would eat less food. We would no longer have both chapati and rice in one meal. It would be either chapati or rice. However, the government did not make this mandatory; we did it ourselves," Gavaskar concluded.
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