How to stay calm under a sky of threats

The sirens scream, but I don’t. I have learned to breathe differently.

— Diary of a Ukrainian teacher, 2022

As borders blur and skies grow uncertain, the notion of war as something distant is vanishing. For civilians in India’s border states — Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan — the fear of drone or missile attacks is no longer abstract. It’s becoming a part of daily life.

But while the Indian military stays alert with radar systems and interceptors, civilians, too, must prepare — not with panic or paranoia — but with awareness, emotional readiness and community strength.

Here’s how to stay grounded when the air above feels unstable:

Recognise the threat — but keep it in perspective

It’s natural to feel afraid of airborne threats. Drones and missiles are fast, hard to track and terrifying. But fear must be informed by fact.

Take Israel’s Iron Dome, which has intercepted over 10,000 rockets. Civilian casualties remain low, not just because of technology, but because people trust official alerts and follow simple, practised protocols.

India, too, has strong air defence systems. The chance of civilian harm — especially outside immediate conflict zones — is low. Stay cautious, but not consumed.

Prepare your space — not a bunker, just a plan

You don’t need a war room — just a safer room.

In Ukraine, people instinctively move to stairwells or basements when sirens sound. It’s not panic, it’s habit.

In India, take similar steps:

• Identify the safest part of your home — central, windowless if possible.
• Pack a “grab bag”: flashlight, water, dry food, medicine, IDs, phone charger.
• Never run to the roof to record what’s happening. Let curiosity wait. Safety comes first.

Calm the mind — it’s your strongest shelter

During the Syrian conflict, researchers found that those who practiced daily breathing or prayer experienced less trauma, even in high-risk areas.

India has deep traditions of inner calm. Use them:

• Try box breathing: Inhale, hold, exhale, hold—for four seconds each. Repeat.
• Chant, meditate, pray — anything that recentres your mind.
• Check the news just twice a day. Constant scrolling feeds fear.

Resilience isn’t being fearless. It’s acting wisely, even when you’re scared.

Learn from the world’s war-tested civilians

Conflict zones teach us: Preparedness is power.

• In South Korea, regular civil defence drills are common—even schoolchildren know where to go. Yet, life continues.
• In Japan, early-warning texts guide people during missile threats. Their calm isn’t magic — it’s muscle memory.

India can adopt this spirit through:

• Local awareness drives
• School safety talks
• Verified WhatsApp groups run by officials — not rumour factories

Stay connected — community is your lifeline

War isolates. Don’t let it.

• Talk to neighbors. Form check-in circles, especially for the elderly.
• Make a family plan: who takes what, where to meet, who to call.
• Trust your local SHO, not social media gossip.

In Gaza, mothers read stories in shelters. In Donetsk, teens play chess underground. Even in fear, people create life.

Clean up your info-diet — don’t spread panic

Drones carry payloads. So does disinformation.

• Don’t forward videos or rumours — especially those without clear sources. You could unknowingly spread enemy propaganda.
• Skip draining debates. Your energy is precious.
• Instead, share verified tips, hopeful messages, calming practices.

Think of it as emotional self-defence.

Acceptance, not surrender — a lesson from the East

Borrowing from Zen and Wabi-Sabi, we must accept imperfection and chaos — but not let it consume us.

“You cannot stop the storm, but you can find stillness in the eye of it.”

We don’t pretend nothing’s happening. But we also don’t fall apart.

And when it feels too much…

• Call someone. Talk it out.
• Try grounding: name five things you see, four you touch, three you hear, two you smell, one you taste.
• Reserve an hour for something joyful: drawing, music, gardening, laughter.

That hour is resistance.

The sky may tremble, but we don’t have to

India has faced invasions, insurgencies, even coordinated terror — but it has never broken.

Today, threats may fly in, not march in. But we are not defenceless. Our weapon is not panic, but preparation. Not rage, but resilience.

Civilians are not trained for war, but you are certainly built for solidarity. For care. For survival.

Let the storm pass. You will still be standing.

(The writer is DGP and Head, Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau)