Prototype siren to be tested in Mumbai's Fort on October 8 and 9; BMC urges public not to panic
The civic body says the loud sound is a scheduled technical test of a new emergency siren system, not a sign of any danger.
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Loud sirens will be heard in the Fort area of South Mumbai on October 8 and 9, 2026. The sound will not be due to any accident or danger. A new prototype siren system, installed to deal with emergency situations, is to be tested. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has appealed to people not to harbour any fear or misunderstanding.
The modern prototype siren has been developed by a special team of the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), working under the guidance of the Directorate General of Civil Defence in New Delhi, which comes under the Central government. As a security measure, the device has been installed on two important buildings in Fort. One is the old Secretariat building in Fort, also known as the Jod building, and the other is the Civil Defence College at Cross Maidan.
The BMC administration has clarified that the entire exercise and the test have been planned in advance. No real emergency has arisen in Mumbai at present, nor is there any threat. It is only part of a technical check of the system. The administration has clearly directed local residents, traders and employees working in the area not to panic on hearing the loud siren on October 8 and 9.
The sirens to be sounded in the test are fitted on the old Secretariat building (Jod building) of Brihanmumbai in Fort, Mumbai, and on the Civil Defence building at Cross Maidan. If the sound is heard during this time, people should neither be frightened nor harbour any misunderstanding. The sounding of the sirens is only part of the testing of the prototype siren device.
The BMC has appealed to Mumbaikars for cooperation. People have also been warned not to believe any false rumours spreading on social media or through other channels about the test, and not to forward any unofficial information. The administration has advised people to stay calm and cooperate fully in this pre-planned test. The same appeal has been made by the Additional Controller, Civil Defence, Brihanmumbai.
