With preparations not seen in decades, the home ministry ordered officials to test air raid sirens and teach civilians to navigate blackouts and carry out evacuations.

Sign up here.The US is pushing to calm tensions between India and Pakistan as signs mount of an imminent clash after militants last week killed dozens of tourists on the Indian-controlled side of the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir.

India fired missiles into Pakistani-controlled territory in several locations early Wednesday, killing at least eight people including a child, Pakistani authorities said. India said it was striking infrastructure used by militants.