AMN / WEB DESK
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel held a meeting at the State Emergency Operation Center in Gandhinagar to assess the situation regarding the impending Cyclone Biparjoy in coastal areas of the state. During the high-level meeting, the Chief Minister received a comprehensive briefing on the preparedness measures implemented by the monitoring system and provided necessary instructions.
Alok Kumar Pandey, Commissioner of Relief emphasized the state government’s commitment to ensure the safety of its citizens in the face of the approaching storm. The government has successfully evacuated over 47,000 individuals to safer locations in eight districts in an efficient and timely manner.
The ongoing rehabilitation is expected to be completed 100% by Wednesday evening. As of now, a total of 47,113 people have been safely relocated across various districts, including 4,462 in Junagadh, 17,739 in Kutch, 8,542 in Jamnagar, 3,469 in Porbandar, 4,863 in Devbhoomi Dwarka, 1,605 in Gir Somnath, 1,936 in Morbi, and 4,497 in Rajkot.
To address the potential impact of Cyclone Biparjoy, the Commissioner of Relief has deployed 18 teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and 12 teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) in the affected districts. The deployment of rescue teams has been done to meet the specific requirements of each district, with 6 teams stationed in Kutch, 3 teams in Devbhoomi Dwarka, 2 teams in Rajkot, and Jamnagar, and one team each in Junagadh, Porbandar, Gir Somnath, Morbi, and Valsad. The SDRF has allocated 2 teams each to Kutch, Jamnagar, and Devbhoomi Dwarka, while Junagadh, Porbandar, Gir Somnath, Morbi, Patan, and Banaskantha have one team each. Additionally, Surat has a reserve team in place.
As a precautionary measure, over four thousand hoardings have been removed in districts prone to cyclones. A team of 597 personnel from the PGVCL has been assembled to swiftly restore the electricity supply after the cyclone subsides. Essential wire poles have been made readily available at all substations, and teams from other districts have been mobilized to expedite the power restoration process in the affected areas.
Alok Pandey informed that shelter homes have been established in government schools and offices in the districts affected by the cyclone in coastal areas. These facilities provide safe accommodations along with essential provisions such as food, water, and medicine. Additionally, nearby locations have been equipped with health centers, both public and private hospitals, where sufficient medical staff and necessary medications are available. Generator sets and other essential healthcare services have also been arranged.
Satellite phones and ham radio services have been put on standby to address any potential disruptions in the communication system due to heavy rains or storms. Moreover, mobile service operators have been instructed to keep alternative towers operational as a precautionary measure.
During the review meeting, Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretaries, Secretaries, and officials were provided with detailed updates on the progress of various departments, including the Revenue Department and the Health Department.