GANDHINAGAR: Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, the Gujarat govt on Friday cancelled the leaves of all govt employees. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel reviewed the state’s preparedness in the border districts.The CM took to his X handle to announce that the leaves of govt employees from all departments and offices of the state govt, including boards and corporations, panchayats, municipal corporations and autonomous and grant-in-aid institutions, stand cancelled.
“Instructions have also been issued to heads of the respective departments or offices to ensure that officers and employees currently on leave report to duty with immediate effect,” the CM said, adding that they have also been instructed not to leave the headquarters without prior approval from department heads.Meanwhile, in a significant development on Friday night, the state govt announced a blackout in the entire Kutch district. The collector and district magistrate of Kutch announced on their official X handle, “Considering the current situation, a blackout is being declared in the entire Kutch district today (Friday) until further notice.” Similar blackout orders were issued for all villages under Santalpur taluka of Patan district, which is closest to the Pakistan border.All villages of Suigam and Vav talukas of Banaskantha district were also placed under blackout on Friday. “All citizens are requested to stay away from rumours and follow instructions given by the administration,” the Banaskantha collector said in a X post.On Friday, the CM reviewed the preparedness of the administration from the state emergency operations centre (SEOC) and held a video conference with collectors and other district administration officers of Banaskantha, Patan, Kutch and Jamnagar, evaluating arrangements for evacuation, medical assistance and the like in these districts in case of any eventuality.The CM also convened a meeting of officials of the state civil supplies department, instructing them to ensure the availability of essential items. An official statement said the CM directed officials to ensure that unscrupulous elements do not escalate prices of essential items by taking advantage of the prevailing situation.Health minister Rushikesh Patel also convened a video conference with top officials of the health department and instructed the authorities at all district hospitals to remain on alert to address any eventuality. The official statement said the health minister reviewed the health infrastructure facilities in all districts that share borders with Pakistan.