THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In the wake of the ongoing heavy rains, state police chief Anil Kant has directed all police chiefs to remain alert. It has also been instructed to start a control room in every district to deal with emergency situations.

All the police stations and disaster management authorities have been directed to get ready to face emergencies. The district police chiefs shall be in regular contact with the district collectors and the district level disaster management authorities. All the police stations will be equipped with JCB, boats and other life-saving equipment. The police stations in the coastal areas have been directed to arrange safety boats. All calls to the emergency response number 112 will be treated with urgency, 24 hours.

Special caution will be taken in areas prone to landslides. Unit heads will take steps to make the services, of all sections of the police, available to the public without any delay. The police’ assistance for quick evacuation of people from danger zones will also be ensured. As soon as the relief camps are opened, the services of women policemen will also be made available to ensure the safety of the inmates.

ADGP M R Ajith Kumar, in charge of the armed police battalion, has been appointed as the nodal officer in charge of police deployment and ADGP Vijay S Sakhre of law and order division has been appointed as the nodal officer for the disaster management operations.