CM reviews cyclone situation in coastal district

Hyderabad, Nov 20 : Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, who is on tour of Chittoor district, on Wednesday spoke to Chief Secretary Dr P K Mohanty over phone and reviewed the latest cyclone and heavy rains situation in coastal districts.

The Chief Minister also spoke to the district collectors on the rains, flood situation. He directed that people living in low lying areas should be evacuated and shifted to safer places. He asked the officials to see that the rescue and relief works are taken up on a war footing and ensure that it reaches the affected people as early as possible.

As per the directions of the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary Dr P K Mohanty reviewed the latest cyclone and heavy rains situation with the concerned officials at the secretariat. He said that six NDRF teams have been rushed of which two teams have been deployed in Kavali and Prakasam while one team each has been deputed in Guntur and Krishna districts. Teams from the State Disaster Response Force have also been sent. The Fisheries Commissioner has been directed to ensure that all the fishermen are given instructions on cell phones not to venture into the sea. Irrigation officials have been asked to ensure that vaagus are closely monitored. Civil Supplies officials have been directed to keep adequate stocks of essential commodities.

The medical and health department officials have also been alerted to keep adequate stocks of medicines and paramedical staff. Municipal officials have been asked to evacuate people living in dilapidated buildings and also ensure that people living in low lying areas are shifted to safer places. The village sarpanches and village officials will be asked to sensitise the people to shift to safer places. The Roads and Buildings Department and electricity department officials have been asked to report to the concerned district collectors about the damages. Special officers for Nellore, Prakasam and Guntur districts have been appointed. Helicopters have been put on standby. The state government is in regular touch with the IMD and NDMA officials, the Chief Secretary said. Commissioner Disaster Management and other officials attended the meeting.

According to the disaster management officials, the deep depression over west central Bay of Bengal intensified into a cyclonic storm “HELEN” and lay centered about 460 kms east north east coast of Chennai, 430 kms of East Kavali. Round the clock control rooms at Secretariat- 040- 23456005 and 23451043 have been opened. Control rooms at district, division, mandal levels opened in the above four districts. District Collectors are instructed to take all precautionary measures and ensure that people in low lying areas are evacuated to safer places and ensure zero casualties. In Nellore 52 habitations identified as likely to be inundated and Collector asked to evacuate the people in these habitations, if necessary. INN