In an unprecedented sight on Wednesday evening, a 15-minute power blackout was observed in many areas of the national capital, including entire Lutyens’ Delhi.

The exercise left the New Delhi area housing Parliament, India Gate, embassies and key administrative buildings dark as part of a nationwide civil defence mock drill.

The blackout, which took place from 8 pm to 8.15 pm, was carried out by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to simulate emergency wartime conditions.

The move, officials said, was part of ‘Operation Abhyaas’, a mega mock drill initiated by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in response to rising tensions with Pakistan following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam.

“All residents are requested to cooperate and bear with the situation,” an NDMC official said, adding that while government offices and diplomatic enclaves participated in the exercise, hospitals, metro stations, Rashtrapati Bhavan and the PMO were excluded from the power cut.

Several iconic markets and public spaces – Connaught Place, Khan Market and Town Hall in Chandni Chowk – went dark, briefly halting activity in areas usually lit up late into the night. The visual impact was stark, drawing the attention of residents and tourists alike.

Officials in Central Delhi confirmed that blackouts were executed at five major locations, including Wazirabad, Chandni Chowk and the Civic Centre. Parts of Karol Bagh and Prasad Nagar also participated in the drill.

In North West Delhi, officials said blackouts occurred at five identified spots, with a clear directive to avoid disruption to emergency services.

According to officials, in southeast Delhi, the blackout was also observed at a government school in Madan Kahadar and DLF King’s Court apartments in Greater Kailash.

East Delhi authorities noted that due to rainfall and the presence of essential service providers, a complete blackout was not feasible. However, selected areas did take part to ensure symbolic participation in the nationwide exercise.

Earlier in the day, mock security drills were carried out by authorities at 55 locations in the national capital.

Though brief, the power cut in Delhi served as a reminder of the capital’s readiness to respond to high-risk scenarios.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)