Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, May 9: In response to escalating tensions along the India-Pakistan border, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday chaired a high-level security review meeting in Mumbai, charting out an extensive emergency preparedness plan across the state.

Joined by deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde, the Chief Minister directed immediate action on several fronts, including the setting up of district-level “war rooms” to serve as real-time control centres for inter-agency coordination during emergencies. The state government also mandated full-scale mock drills across Maharashtra with a special focus on blackout operations.

Hospitals have been instructed to install power backup systems and blackout infrastructure like tinted windows and dark curtains. The CM emphasized that civic bodies, especially in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, must work closely with housing societies to boost community-level readiness.

Fadnavis announced an intensive awareness campaign to educate citizens, including schoolchildren, on emergency protocols through instructional videos. He also directed all government departments to be briefed on the Centre’s ‘Union War Book,’ which outlines wartime administrative procedures.

Cybersecurity was flagged as a major concern. District cyber cells have been asked to intensify social media monitoring and act swiftly against misinformation or hostile narratives. A cyber audit of critical infrastructure, including power grids, has been ordered.

To ensure quick response, emergency funds will be released immediately to district collectors. The CM also fast-tracked all essential proposals related to security readiness, promising clearances within an hour. Importantly, he issued a ban on filming or sharing any defence preparedness activities to maintain operational secrecy.

Coastal security will be reinforced, including the temporary hiring of fishing trawlers for surveillance, and a new public communication system will provide verified updates during crises. All senior officials in key departments such as Health and Disaster Management have had their leaves cancelled with immediate effect.

Military coordination will also be ramped up, with the state planning video conferences with top officers of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard based in Mumbai.