The move comes as per the instructions of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who also directed the state secretariat to activate its control room to extend assistance and provide verified information to those affected.
Published May 09, 2025 | 11:04 AM ⚊ Updated May 09, 2025 | 11:04 AM
Aftermath of a Pakistani shelling in the Poonch area of Jammu & Kashmir.
Synopsis: Amid rising India-Pakistan border tensions, Kerala’s NORKA and state secretariat have set up control rooms to assist Malayalis in affected states. Following a foiled Pakistani drone attack and missile interceptions, blackouts were enforced in parts of Punjab and J&K. The Indian Air Force deployed S-400 systems. Schools in Punjab and J&K will remain closed for three days.
In the wake of rising tensions at the India- Pakistan border, the Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NORKA) department has opened a control room to assist Malayali students and Keralites residing in the border states.
The move comes as per the instructions of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who also directed the state secretariat to activate its control room to extend assistance and provide verified information to those affected.
Officials urged the public not to panic and to strictly follow instructions from local authorities.
Authorities requested that those requiring assistance reach out through these helplines.
On Thursday, 8 May night, explosions and sirens were heard near the Line of Control in Jammu & Kashmir’s Rajouri and Poonch, some areas in Punjab and Rajasthan, reportedly after a Pakistani drone attack was foiled by India’s air defence system. Several areas of these states experienced blackouts as well.
Reports indicate that eight missiles from Pakistan were directed at Satwari, Samba, RS Pura and Arnia, which were intercepted, blocked by Air Defence Units.
Due to suspected shelling by Pakistan, blackouts were enforced in the Pathankot and Amritsar districts of Punjab. A precautionary blackout was enforced in Ramban in Jammu and Kashmir following an unsuccessful attack by Pakistan along India’s western borders.
Meanwhile, Defence sources said the Indian Air Force used its S-400 air defence systems on Wednesday night to stop an aerial attack launched by Pakistan. The Pakistani attack, aimed at military targets in north and west India, was in response to India’s Operation Sindoor.
Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab governments have said that schools, colleges, and universities across the states will remain closed for three days from Friday.
(Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from Sreelakshmi Soman)
