Crisis management: Kerala sets up civil defence panel

According to official sources, the state government of Kerala has established a state advisory committee on civil defence to monitor preparedness and coordinate with military and paramilitary forces in an emergency. The committee comprises representatives from several key state departments, including those responsible for homeland security, public health, fire and rescue services, and law enforcement. The establishment of this committee follows the recent hostilities between India and Pakistan in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack. It is anticipated that the committee will maintain its operations even after the present security situation has been resolved. Its primary objective will be to facilitate coordination with security agencies involved in disaster scenarios that necessitate assistance from the central government and defence forces.