Home Ministry reviewing situation 24X7
AMN / WEB DESK
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today chaired a high-level meeting today to review the preparedness of Ministries and Agencies of the Centre as well as Gujarat to deal with the situation arising out of the impending Cyclone ‘Biparjoy’.
Mr. Modi directed senior officers to take every possible measure to ensure that people living in vulnerable locations are safely evacuated by the State government. He also asked them to ensure maintenance of all essential services such as Power, Telecommunications, health, drinking water etc and are restored immediately in the event of damages caused to them. The Prime Minister also directed that the safety of animals should also be ensured. He further directed for 24X7 functioning of control rooms.
During the meeting, India Meteorological Department IMD informed that Cyclone Biparjoy is expected to cross Saurashtra and Kutch between Mandvi in Gujarat and Karachi in Pakistan near Jakhau Port of Gujarat by noon of 15th June as a very severe cyclonic storm.
It will have a maximum sustained wind speed of 125 to 135 kilometres per hour gusting to 145 kilometres per hour. It is likely to cause heavy rainfall in the coastal districts of Gujarat, including extremely heavy rainfall in Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka and Jamnagar and heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places over Porbandar, Rajkot, Morbi and Junagarh districts of Gujarat on the 14th and 15th of June. IMD informed that it has been issuing regular bulletins since the onset of the cyclonic system on the 6th of June with the latest forecast to all the States and agencies concerned. It was also informed that Home Ministry is reviewing the situation 24X7 and is in touch with the State government and the Central Agencies concerned. NDRF has pre-positioned 12 teams, which are equipped with boats, tree-cutters, telecom equipment and others. It has kept 15 teams on standby.
Indian Coast Guard and the Navy have deployed ships and helicopters for relief, search and rescue operations. Air Force and Engineer task force units of the Army, with boats and rescue equipment, are on standby for deployment. Surveillance aircraft and helicopters are carrying out serial surveillance along the coast. Disaster Relief teams and Medical Teams of the Army, Navy and Coast Guard are also on standby.
The Prime Minister was also briefed about measures taken by the government of Gujarat to deal with the cyclone. Review meetings with the district administration have been held at the level of the Chief Minister and the entire State administration machinery is geared up to meet any exigency situation. Cabinet Secretary and Home Secretary are in continuous touch with the Chief Secretary of Gujarat and the Central Ministries and Agencies concerned. The meeting was attended by Home Minister Amit Shah, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister, Cabinet Secretary and other senior officers.