For the first time since the beginning of hostilities between India and Pakistan following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, on April 22, the District Collector of Devbhoomi Dwarka district on Sunday appealed to citizens to observe a voluntary “blackout” from dusk till dawn.
In the public appeal posted as a statement on social media site X at around 6.30 pm Sunday, Collector Rajesh M Tanna stated, “Keeping in mind the seriousness of the current situation, the district public, commercial establishments and organisations is appealed to observe a blackout from dusk till dawn until further orders.”
The statement also asked people to obey administrative orders and keep away from rumours.
On Saturday, to mitigate rumours, the district administration in Dwarka had issued a statement confirming that there is enough stock of fuel, including petrol and diesel, in the district.
While The Indian Express could not reach Collector Tanna for comment, District Development Officer (DDO) AB Pandor confirmed that the appeal had been made to the public as a precautionary measure.
Meanwhile, state Tourism Minister Mulu Bera chaired a review of the situation at the Collector’s office in Dwarka “and obtained information about the prior preparations made by the district administration such as evacuation, health, water, food supply and other related arrangements”.
The Devbhoomi-Dwarka district lies at the tip of the western seaboard of Gujarat and is home to several vital important sites, including those from an ecological, archaeological, religious and infrastructure points of view. It is also important from a national security perspective.