A recent surge in Indo-Pakistani tensions has prompted India’s leading ports to both showcase their emergency preparedness and tighten security measures, while regional trade corridors face significant disruptions. On 7 May 2025, the Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) at Kandla executed a full-scale civil defence mock drill, simulating an aerial assault and mass-casualty scenario to test inter-agency coordination and operational resilience. Concurrently, heightened conflict along the India–Pakistan border has led major carriers like COSCO and OOCL to suspend services to Karachi, rerouting cargo and inflating freight costs, effectively severing Pakistan’s critical trade lifeline through India’s Mundra Port. In response, Indian authorities have placed Mundra and Kandla ports on high alert—cancelling berthing schedules, enforcing night-time blackouts, and halting shipping movements until daylight under enhanced coastal surveillance protocols.
Mock Civil Defence Drill at DPA Kandla
On 7 May, the DPA at Kandla collaborated with the State Administration, DPA Fire Brigade, Municipal Corporation, State Police, Civil Defence teams, and other key agencies to conduct an intensive mock drill. The scenario revolved around a coordinated aerial assault on Nirman Bhavan—one of the port authority’s principal administrative buildings—resulting in a simulated explosion that inflicted severe structural damage and multiple casualties.
Participants and Coordination: Twenty-five mock casualties, including government officials, port workers, and support staff, were “injured” in the exercise, with injuries spanning from minor wounds to critical conditions and some simulated fatalities. Emergency teams from various departments navigated debris-clogged routes to perform evacuation, search-and-rescue operations, triage, and medical aid under dynamic, hazardous conditions.
Objectives and Outcomes: The primary goal was to validate the port’s emergency response protocols and inter-agency communication channels. Post-drill assessments highlighted strong coordination and identified areas—such as debris clearance procedures and medical triage drills—for further refinement. DPA officials commended all participating entities for their dedication to public safety and pledged to integrate feedback into updated emergency preparedness plans.
This exercise underscores the strategic importance of Kandla, not only as a major commercial gateway but also as a critical national security asset demanding rigorous readiness in the event of hostilities.
Disruption of Regional Trade and Shipping Operations
Simultaneous to India’s defensive posturing, escalating hostilities have rattled commercial shipping lanes across the Arabian Sea. Mumbai-based exporters and logistics providers report mounting delays, surging freight costs, and supply-chain bottlenecks.
Suspension of Karachi Services: In a precautionary move, shipping giants COSCO (China Ocean Shipping Company) and OOCL (Orient Overseas Container Line) announced immediate suspension of all Karachi-bound services. COSCO warned that vessels already en route might be diverted to alternative hubs like Port Klang in Malaysia. OOCL likewise halted bookings on its CIX1/2/CPX3 services, instituting a surcharge of 1,000 yuan (approx. $138) per container to offset operational risks.
Also read : Vizhinjam International Seaport – India’s First Deepwater Transshipment Hub Boosting Maritime Trade
Impact on Mundra Corridor: Pakistan’s overland and sea corridor through India’s Mundra Port—a crucial node for Europe-bound shipments—has been effectively shut down due to mutual cargo-movement restrictions imposed by both governments. With maritime routes off-limits, exporters in Karachi and Sialkot face missed deadlines and mounting client pressures, while importers struggle with severe berth congestion at Karachi Port exacerbated by a local transport strike.
Air Freight Strain: The conflict’s ripple effects have even reached air cargo, with intermittent flight disruptions further tightening the logistics noose around Pakistan’s import-export ecosystem.
Absent a diplomatic breakthrough, these interruptions threaten to undermine Pakistan’s trade continuity, risking foreign-exchange inflows and elevating costs across sectors reliant on timely imports of raw materials and machinery.
Ports Placed on High Alert and Security Enhancements
Against this backdrop of operational disruption, India has escalated security at its own strategic maritime installations. Late Thursday, government sources confirmed that all military bases and critical coastal assets were secured, with particular emphasis on the ports of Mundra and Kandla.
Cancellation of Berthing Schedules: At Mundra Port—the nation’s busiest commercial gateway—all planned vessel berthings were cancelled to minimize vulnerability during nocturnal hours. By suspending incoming and outgoing traffic until daylight, authorities aim to reduce the risk of covert incursions or missile strikes under the cover of darkness.
Enforced Night-time Blackout: Kandla Port, located about 120 km from Mundra in the Kutch district, implemented a full blackout directive, ordering all berthed ships to switch off navigational and deck lights. This measure complements intensified coastal surveillance by the Indian Navy and Coast Guard, which have increased patrols and aerial reconnaissance flights along the western seaboard.
Strategic Significance: Mundra’s status as India’s top container-handling hub and Kandla’s historical role as a multipurpose port underscore their significance in national trade and security architecture. By synchronizing blackout protocols across both ports, the government leverages regional proximity to optimize surveillance and rapid-response deployment in the event of hostile action.
These precautionary steps follow a recent exchange of hostilities: Indian forces struck nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, including Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba strongholds, prompting retaliatory drone and missile attacks along India’s border states—each intercepted by Indian defense systems since early Wednesday evening.
Broader Implications and Future Outlook
The concurrent execution of a rigorous mock drill, the disruptions in regional trade corridors, and the enforcement of high-alert maritime security measures reflect a comprehensive national response to an evolving security landscape. Key takeaways include:
Operational Readiness: The DPA’s mock drill at Kandla validates the effectiveness of multi-agency coordination protocols and highlights the imperative of regular, realistic training scenarios to bolster resilience against asymmetric threats.
Economic Vulnerabilities: Suspension of Karachi services and the closure of the Mundra trade corridor underscore how geopolitical frictions can swiftly morph into economic shocks—impacting exporters, importers, and global supply chains.
Security Posture: India’s proactive port-security enhancements demonstrate an integrated defense approach, leveraging both naval assets and civil agencies to safeguard critical infrastructure. The blackout and berthing cancellations at Kandla and Mundra ports serve as both deterrents and defensive measures, signaling readiness to counter any maritime threat.
Moving forward, stakeholders will closely monitor diplomatic channels for de-escalation signals. For commercial operators, contingency planning—including alternative routing via Gulf ports or overland corridors through Iran—will become increasingly vital. Meanwhile, port authorities across India may adopt similar inter-agency drills and security protocols to fortify other coastal nodes against emergent threats.
As the situation evolves, the interplay between defence preparedness and trade continuity will remain at the forefront of regional maritime discourse, shaping India’s economic and security policies in the weeks ahead.
