According to the ministry, the drills will take place in 244 civil defence districts across the country. These areas have already been categorised for civil defence activities.

Balwinder Sahni, 53, is the founder and chairman of the RSG Group, a property development firm with projects in several countries.

The last time India conducted such a nationwide mock drill was 54 years ago, during the 1971 India-Pakistan war. That war led to the creation of Bangladesh.