Phailin cyclone: CM tells people not to panic

Hyderabad, Oct 12 : Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Saturday said that all possible measures have been taken by the State Government for the rescue and relief operations due to the Phailin cyclone. He said that there is no need to panic and the State Government will take every care to save the life and property of the people and also the cattle.

The Chief Minister appealed to the people to cooperate with the State Government, particularly in the low lying areas to move to safer places. He said food, medicine, drinking water, boats, rescue teams etc. are in place and the entire State Government machinery has been on high alert to meet the situation. Army, Navy, Air Force, NDRF, Revenue teams etc. are in place now. He said Fishermen’s safety also has been taken care of. Helicopters, fire tenders, and water tankers are also being deployed in required numbers to serve the affected people.

The Chief Minister said more than one lakh people have been evacuated so far and the evacuation is in full swing. However, people are reluctant to move to safer places and they are being convinced. He said people’s safety is the Government’s main concern. He said officials of various departments have taken positions and District Collectors of the affected districts are monitoring the situation and coordinating the work by various departments.

Kiran Kumar Reddy said officials have been directed to take care of the fishermen and out of the 22,994 boats, only 22 boats are to reach the shore and they are also being traced out. He said enough food for the people in the cyclone shelters, milk for children, kerosene, petrol, gas and drinking water in the affected areas are being stored in adequate quantities and will be supplied. He said Ministers are also monitoring the situation from time to time. He said army and civil doctors’ teams with medicines and surgical equipments have also reached the spot to take up relief works. The power saw has been placed at different places to cut the fallen trees to clear the roads.

The Chief Minister said artificial bridges are also in place to replace the breached bridges. He said communication network and ham radios are also in place now. He said funds will not be a problem and the officials concerned can draw funds as and when required. Ministers K Jana Reddy, Anam Ramnarayan Reddy, Ponnala Lakshmiah, Sridhar Babu, Maheedhar Reddy, Sudarshan Reddy, T G Venkatesh, former Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao, Chief Secretary Dr.P.K.Mohanty, DGP B.Prasada Rao, Commissioner Disaster Management Dr. T Radha, Special Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries and other officials attended the meeting.

The Chief Secretary informed that 237 villages in 11 Mandals of Srikakulam District, 6 gram panchayats and 22 hamlets in 2 villages of Vizianagaram District and 67 villages in 10 Mandals of Visakhapatnam District are affected by the cyclone. Round the Clock control rooms with telephones etc opened at State/District/Mandal levels. Senior IAS officers were deputed as Special Officers to assist District Administration in Rescue and Relief operations and they are already in the respective districts. The District Collectors also appointed Supervisory Officers at Mandal levels. All people’s representatives from sarpanches to MLAs, MPs and Ministers are being involved in the rescue and relief operations.

The DGP said enough police and civil people are being organised to take up the relief works. As many as 19 teams of NDRF personnel with 4 boats with each team for rescue and evacuation equipments are already positioned. Five columns of army personnel (5×110) with engineers, communication specialists and medical team with all equipments including have already reached the destinations. About 10 helicopters are requisitioned from the Government of India and they will be positioned. INN