13/10/2025
*DC Kishtwar Finalizes Arrangements for Smooth and Safe Celebration of Deepawali Festival*
Kishtwar, October 13, 2025:
The District Administration Kishtwar, under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar, Shri Pankaj Kumar Sharma (JKAS), convened a meeting today in the Conference Hall of the New DC Office Complex, Kishtwar, to finalize arrangements for the smooth and safe celebration of the Deepawali (Diwali) Festival-2025, falling on October 20ᵗʰ and 21ˢᵗ, 2025.
At the outset, the Deputy Commissioner extended warm greetings on the eve of the forthcoming festival.
He directed officers of the line departments to take all necessary precautionary measures to prevent any untoward incidents during the celebrations and emphasized the need to raise public awareness—particularly advising parents to ensure that children do not use firecrackers without proper supervision.
The Deputy Commissioner directed all line departments to strictly adhere to the guidelines and ensure timely implementation of all arrangements discussed during the meeting. He stressed that all officers must work in close coordination to maintain law and order, sanitation, uninterrupted essential services, and effective crowd management to ensure a peaceful and joyous Diwali across the district.
The Police Department, along with the CRPF 52 Bn, was directed to make adequate security arrangements across Kishtwar town, its adjoining areas, and all religious temples. Similar arrangements will be ensured in all Sub-Divisions and Tehsils of the district to maintain peace and order.
The Jal Shakti Department Kishtwar was directed to ensure an uninterrupted drinking water supply across the town and its suburbs during the festival days. Water tankers shall be deployed at Chowgan Ground, ITI Ground, and other identified locations.
The Jal Shakti Department was also directed to coordinate with the Tehsildar Kishtwar for barricading arrangements at Chowgan Ground in connection with the sale of crackers.
The ExEn JPDCL Kishtwar was directed to ensure an uninterrupted power supply in the town, adjoining areas, and all religious places.
To ensure health preparedness, the Health Department Kishtwar and AYUSH Department were directed to establish First Aid Camps at Chowgan Ground and keep all PHCs, CHCs, and Sub-Centres functional 24×7 with adequate medical staff, ambulances, and medicines.
The Health Department was also directed to ensure the availability of emergency equipment and treatment facilities for burn victims and respiratory patients.
The CEO Municipal Council Kishtwar was directed to conduct special cleanliness and sanitation drives around all religious and public gathering places. The functionality of all streetlights shall be checked, and dark spots must be illuminated. Similarly, all Block Development Officers (BDOs) were instructed to carry out cleanliness and sensitization drives in rural religious sites where congregations will be held.
The DC laid special emphasis on ensuring the availability of quality commodities and preventing black marketing. A joint Market Checking Team comprising the Tehsildar Kishtwar, Assistant Director FCS&CA, CEO Municipal Council, SHO Kishtwar, District Food Safety Officer, and Assistant Controller Legal Metrology was directed to conduct regular market inspections from today onwards.
The team shall ensure the display of rate lists, the quality of sweets, and the hygiene of food items, and take strict action under the Food Safety and Standards Act against violators.
The AD FCS&CA Kishtwar was further directed to ensure an adequate supply of LPG cylinders, atta, and rice, and to make home delivery of LPG available across the district to prevent inconvenience to the public.
The Assistant Director Fire & Emergency Services Kishtwar was directed to keep fire tenders filled and stationed at Hidyal Chowk, Bus Stand, and Dak Bungalow from October 18ᵗʰ to 21ˢᵗ.
For smooth vehicular movement, the District Police, ARTO, and DTI Kishtwar were directed to ensure proper traffic management and parking arrangements, particularly inside the ITI Ground, to avoid congestion during the festival.
The existing Control Room at the DC Office Kishtwar will remain fully functional to monitor the overall situation.
Members of the Sanatan Dharma Sabha Kishtwar also shared various issues, to which the DC listened patiently and assured every possible support from the District Administration Kishtwar.
The meeting was attended by SP Ops Kishtwar Nisar Ahmed Khoja, CO CRPF 52 Bn, CEO KDA Kishtwar Kaiser Bhawani, ACR Kishtwar Idrees Lone, AD FCS&CA Kishtwar, CEO Municipal Council Kishtwar Mirza Mumtaz Iqbal, ARTO Kishtwar Tasleem Wani, ExEn JPDCL Kishtwar Latif Wani, DSHO Kishtwar, DO Food Safety Kishtwar Farooq Ahmed, President Sanatan Dharma Sabha Kishtwar along with the Members of the Sanatan Dharma Sabha Kishtwar besides other senior officers and concerned staff.
