Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh on high alert, educational institutions shut along the border
Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh Union Territory were on high alert after India's military action against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Including cancelling leave for police and health personnel, shutting down educational institutions, and enforcing night blackouts in vulnerable areas, authorities in the region have initiated all emergency protocols.
Punjab Education Minister Harjot Bains on Thursday announced the closure of all schools, colleges and universities, government, private and aided, across the state for three days as a precautionary measure. Leaves of all Punjab Police personnel were cancelled with immediate effect. Similar strategies were implemented in Haryana, where the police and health departments recalled all employees from leave to ensure continuous service and increased readiness.
National Health Mission directed the workers of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) and Urban Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (UAAMs) in Chandigarh to be put on emergency duty, and medical leave was suspended until further orders.
In Jalandhar, drones were reported to be neutralized around 11:20 p.m. by the security forces. A total blackout was announced at 8:30 p.m. in areas such as Amritsar, Fazilka, Rupnagar, Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, and Mohali.
Locals heard loud sounds and were instructed to remain indoors and switch off lights. Pathankot Deputy Commissioner Aditya Uppal instructed the citizens to strictly follow to the blackout procedures in order to maintain their safety.
Meanwhile, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (Mohali) district administration announced the territory a "No Flying Zone" for drones and UAVs up to July 5, as per Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. The restriction does not concern law enforcement agencies or other permitted government bodies.
Special emergency response units consisting of district administration members, police, and civil defence have been set in motion at all levels, starting from village to district, to take charge of any emerging crisis. Six Punjab border district schools, Amritsar, Pathankot, Fazilka, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran, and Ferozepur, have already been closed as a precautionary measure.
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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
