New Delhi, May 10 -- The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has asked all states and Union Territories to invoke emergency powers under Civil Defence Rules as tensions have escalated between India and Pakistan.

In its letter to chief secretaries of states and administrators of Union Territories, the Home Minsitry asked them to activate Section 11 of the Civil Defence Rules, 1968. This grants Emergency Procurement Powers to the Directors of Civil Defence in order to ensure swift and effective implementation of precautionary measures.

"In the current hostile attack scenario, I would like to draw your kind attention towards Section 11 of the Civil Defence Rules, 1968, which inter-alia empowers he State Governments, to take such measures, which...