Port Blair: A massive coastal security drill spanning land and sea will unfold across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands this week as security agencies gear up for “Sagar Kavach – SKV 01/26”, a two-day high-intensity exercise designed to test the islands’ preparedness against potential maritime intrusions and terror-style attacks. Scheduled from 6 AM on May 14 to 6 PM on May 15, the exercise will simulate hostile infiltration attempts from the sea, with “Red Force” teams attempting to breach coastal defences and launch mock attacks on strategically important installations and vital points across the islands.
Officials said the operation aims to rigorously evaluate the effectiveness of the existing coastal security architecture, response time of security agencies, and the coordination mechanism between multiple forces deployed in the archipelago. The drill is expected to involve a wide spectrum of agencies, including maritime security units, coastal police, defence establishments and other stakeholders tasked with safeguarding the islands’ sensitive coastline. The exercise comes amid continuing emphasis on strengthening maritime surveillance and coastal defence preparedness in strategically crucial island territories such as the Andaman and Nicobar chain, located near key international shipping routes in the Indo-Pacific region.
Authorities have urged residents not to panic over unusual movements of security personnel, vessels, or mock tactical operations during the exercise period, clarifying that all activities are part of a planned security preparedness drill. The public has also been requested to co-operate fully with participating agencies to ensure the smooth conduct of the operation. Officials maintained that such exercises are essential to plug vulnerabilities, sharpen response capabilities and reinforce the islands’ readiness against emerging coastal security challenges.
