Govt tells media channels not to use civil defence sirens sounds in programmes

New Delhi: Government on Saturday asked news channels to refrain from using the sound of civil defence air raid sirens in their programmes other than community awareness drives.

In an advisory, the Directorate General Fire Service, Civil Defence and Home Guards said invoked provisions of the Civil Defence Act, 1968 to request media channels to refrain from using civil defence air raids sirens sounds in their programmes other than for educating the community.

"The routine use of sirens may likely to reduce the sensitivity of civilians towards the air raids sirens and civilians may misunderstand it as routine matter, used by the media channels, during the actual air raids," the advisory, which came in the midst of heightened tension between India and Pakistan, said.

Some news channels were using the sound of air raid sirens during their broadcast and they have been requested to stop it, sources said.

Earlier, the government had asked media platforms not to provide live coverage or “source-based” reports on ongoing operations against Pakistan as well as anti-terror operations “in the interest of national security”, saying premature disclosure “may inadvertently assist hostile elements”.