Jammu, May 9 (UNI) In the wake of the recent drone attacks in Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday interacted with civil society members to discuss steps taken for public safety, state of preparedness and the importance of maintaining communal harmony during these critical times.

During the interaction, the Chief Minister urged the public to remain calm and vigilant, appealing to citizens not to panic and to rely solely on verified and official sources of information.

Minister Satish Sharma, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Senior Superintendent of Police Jammu, Director Social Welfare Department Jammu, Director Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Jammu, Regional Transport Officer Jammu, senior police officers and other concerned officers were also present during the interaction.

Stressing the importance of effective communication, he outlined a set of measures aimed at enhancing public awareness and strengthening the emergency response mechanism across the region.

The Chief Minister informed the participants that safety guidelines and verified updates would be disseminated through the Department of Information using local television, radio channels and an official WhatsApp channel.

He also emphasised the role of the Traffic Department in raising awareness about emergency alert sirens and signals.

The deployment of police personnel in sensitive areas was discussed as a means to manage panic and assist with crowd control, while designated relief camps, functional bunkers, and healthcare facilities are being kept in a state of readiness.

The meeting was informed that in order to ensure the uninterrupted supply of essential commodities, the government is maintaining the supply chain and regulating prices.

The Chief Minister reiterated the administration’s commitment to maintaining communal harmony and urged community leaders to play a proactive role in fostering peace and unity.

Special attention is also being given to the safety and care of livestock in affected areas.

Abdullah concluded the session by expressing gratitude to the civil society members for their participation and support.

Abdullah also chaired a comprehensive review meeting to assess the ongoing relief measures, evacuation of civilians being undertaken across border districts in the wake of recent cross-border shelling.

The Chief Minister spoke with Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, who briefed him on evacuation efforts and transport arrangements in Kashmir Division.

He informed that essential commodities such as food, healthcare service and also recreation activities for children have been arranged in the shelter camps. Nodal Officers have also been deployed for seamless coordination of facilities in these camps.

Deputy Commissioners of various border districts apprised the Chief Minister about the ground situation, including evacuation planning, medical preparedness, public outreach and availability of essential supplies.

The Chief Minister had a discussion with the Principal Government Medical College Jammu regarding the availability of medical personnel, infrastructure and ambulance services in case of emergencies.

He also emphasised that solar lights in border villages be turned off during blackouts as part of standard security protocols. UNI VBH ARN SSP