SRINAGAR: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Saturday issued an advisory directing all media channels to refrain from using Civil Defence Air Raid Sirens in their programmes, except when used specifically for community awareness drives.
The advisory, issued by the Directorate General Fire Service, Civil Defence and Home Guards, warns that the repeated or casual use of air raid sirens in media broadcasts could desensitise civilians and cause confusion during actual emergencies.
“In exercise of powers conferred under Section 3(1)(w)(i) of the Civil Defence Act, 1968, all media channels are hereby requested to refrain from using Civil Defence Air Raid Sirens sounds in their programmes other than for educating the community,” the advisory read.
The MHA emphasised that routine siren usage might lead civilians to mistake a real alert for a routine broadcast, which could compromise emergency responsiveness during actual air raids.
The MHA also expressed appreciation for media cooperation and requested support in augmenting Civil Defence preparedness in accordance with the Civil Defence Act, 1968.
