The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), under the chairmanship of cabinet Secretary PK Sinha, reviewed the preparedness with the States and concerned Departments of Government to deal with the situation arising out of the Cyclonic Storm Fani.
Reviewing the preparedness of the States and Central Agencies, Mr Sinha directed that all necessary measures be taken to prevent any loss of life and to keep in readiness essential supplies including food, drinking water and medicines.
He also advised all concerned to make adequate preparations to ensure maintenance of essential services such as power, telecommunications in the event of damages caused to them.
“During the meeting, officers of all concerned State Governments confirmed their preparedness to deal with any emerging situation arising out of the cyclonic storm”, a government functionary privy to this meeting said.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed that the Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘FANI’ lay centred this afternoon at about 800 Kms South of Puri.
As per IMD, it is very likely to intensify further into an “Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm” during next 24 hours and move northwestwards till May 1 evening and thereafter recurve north-northeastwards and reach Odisha Coast by afternoon of May 3.
.”Ganjam, Gajapati, Khurda, Puri and Jagatsinghpur districts of Odisha, East and West Medinipur, South and North 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hoogly and Kolkata districts of West Bengal and Srikakulam and Vijayanagram districts of Andhra Pradesh are likely to be affected as per present indications”, the Home Ministry officials said.
Centre has already released advance financial assistance of Rs 1,086 crore to Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal to assist them in undertaking preventive and relief measures after the recommendation of NCMC.
Indian Coast Guard and the Navy have deployed ships and helicopters for relief and rescue operations. Army and Air Force units in the three states have also been put on standby
NDRF is deploying total 41 teams for the rescue and relief operation. Eight teams has been deployed in Andhra Pradesh, while 28 teams have been engaged in Odisha. Five teams are positioned in West Bengal to deal with the situation.
States have issued advisories and are ensuring that fishermen do not venture into the sea. IMD has been issuing three hourly bulletins with latest forecast to all the concerned States. MHA is also in continuous touch with the State Governments and the Central Agencies concerned.
Chief Secretaries or Principal Secretaries of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal again participated in Tuesday’s NCMC meeting through video conference.
Senior Officers from the Ministries of Home Affairs, Shipping, Fisheries, Power, Telecommunications, Defence, IMD and NDRF also attended the meeting.
NCMC will meet again on Wednesday to take stock of the emerging situation.
