Delhi government gears up for any eventuality; departments put on alert
New Delhi, May 10 – In the wake of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan and just ahead of the announcement of a bilateral agreement to halt all military actions, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta chaired a high-level emergency preparedness meeting on Saturday.Following the meeting, CM Gupta addressed the media, stating, “Delhi is ready for any emergency. We have to keep the system normal and be ready for any situation.” Emphasizing that the situation remains under control, she urged citizens to stay aware but not panic.
Hospitals, Power, and Education Departments on Emergency Duty
Top Delhi government officials confirmed that CM Gupta has instructed hospitals to maintain full stocks of essential medicines and to prepare Intensive Care Units (ICUs) for any medical emergencies. The Health Department has been asked to be on high alert.The Power Department has been tasked with preparing for potential blackout scenarios and ensuring uninterrupted supply to critical services. Similarly, the Education Department has been directed to collaborate with other departments to identify school buildings that can be converted into emergency shelters if needed.
Multi-Tiered Strategy for Emergency Response
A formal statement from the Delhi government highlighted that the meeting aimed to evaluate the readiness of all departments in light of the current emergency. The Chief Minister outlined a multi-tiered and coordinated strategy to ensure the capital’s preparedness.Key directives include:
- Power Department: Rapid response in case of outages and backup electricity for essential services.
- Delhi Jal Board (DJB): Ensure uninterrupted water supply, deploy tankers, and maintain power for pumping stations.
- Revenue Department: Activate District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) and keep Civil Defense Volunteers (CDVs) ready.
- Home and Police Departments: Round-the-clock security for critical infrastructure and prioritization of essential service supply chains.
- Inter-agency Coordination: Establish communication with the armed forces, railways, and airport authorities.
Context of Tensions
These preparations follow last month’s terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives, predominantly tourists. Since then, hostilities between India and Pakistan had intensified with cross-border drone strikes, missile launches, and heavy shelling before the recent ceasefire understanding.The Delhi administration remains on alert mode, reinforcing its infrastructure and service systems to respond effectively to any future contingencies.
