SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday directed the immediate release of Rs 5 crore contingency funds to each border district and Rs 2 crore to other districts of Jammu and Kashmir to enable local administrations to swiftly respond to the deteriorating situation caused by ongoing cross-border shelling.
Chairing an emergency meeting via video conferencing with Deputy Commissioners of all border districts, the Chief Minister said the funds must be disbursed on a priority basis to the frontier regions. The move aims to ensure the districts are adequately equipped to manage exigencies, stock essential supplies, and prepare for evacuations, according to official sources.
The meeting, convened in the wake of escalating tensions along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border, was attended by top officials including Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary Dheeraj Gupta, Divisional Commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu, and Deputy Commissioners of all affected districts.
Omar Abdullah underscored the urgent need to safeguard civilian lives. He instructed the administration to strengthen infrastructure for shelters and bunkers, ensure availability of medical resources, deploy ambulances to vulnerable zones, and keep evacuation plans ready. He also called for immediate filling of vacant posts of Tehsildars and other key officers in the border districts to ensure smooth functioning of government machinery.
The Chief Minister expressed grief over the civilian casualties and injuries reported from areas along the LoC and directed officials to extend all necessary support to the affected families.
Deputy Commissioners briefed the Chief Minister on preparedness levels and affirmed that emergency supplies have been stocked. They assured the administration of ongoing monitoring and timely response as the situation unfolds.
Omar Abdullah also instructed officers to actively counter misinformation and urged the public to rely only on official communication channels for updates during this sensitive period. -(KL)
