Ambulances to be moved to border districts being shelled by Pakistan, Rs 5 crore to each DC for ‘exigencies'
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Wednesday chaired an emergency meeting with Deputy Commissioners of all border districts through video conferencing to assess the situation in the wake of intense cross-border shelling by Pakistan.
'The situation and preparedness to deal with exigencies was reviewed in view of the current developments and escalating tension, particularly along the LOC and districts close to the international border,' a government statement said.
Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Divisional Commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu, Commissioner Secretary Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Secretary Health and Medical Education and Deputy Commissioners of Jammu, Poonch, Rajouri, Kathua, Samba, Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora districts attended the meeting.
The Chief Minister issued directions to 'immediately release contingency funds of Rs 5 crore to each border district and Rs 2 crore each to other districts so that District Collectors are equipped to deal with the exigencies arising and requiring availability of adequate resources'. He 'directed that frontier districts be accorded special priority in the disbursement of these funds.'
Highlighting the importance of safeguarding civilian lives, the CM called for strengthening infrastructure with regard to providing shelters and bunkers for public in border areas, keeping evacuation plans ready, and ensuring sufficient stock of food supplies.
In respect of medical assistance, Omar directed the UT's Health Department to maintain sufficient stock of essential medical supplies, ensuring availability of doctors and paramedics, and keeping blood supply ready in case of any depletion in hospitals, especially in vulnerable areas. He also directed to move ambulances to the border districts witnessing cross-border shelling so that in case of any casualty, the injured are rushed to the hospitals.
The Chief Minister expressed grief on the loss of lives and injuries to several civilians living along the LoC and directed DCs to provide all assistance to the affected families.
'He gave directions to the administration to immediately fill up vacant posts of Tehsildars and other officers in the districts so that government machinery is fully functional and responds to the situation swiftly,' the J&K administration said.
The CM also instructed all officers to actively counter misinformation and rumour-mongering, urging the public to rely solely on verified official sources of information.
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