500,000 people evacuated, 12 mn to be affected: NDMA

Deemed as India's biggest rescue operation in 23 years

Even as around 500,000 people have been evacuated, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the apex body for disasters in the country, said around 12 million were likely to be affected by Cyclone Phailin that struck India’s eastern coast on Saturday evening.

Around 500,000 people had been evacuated from Odisha and Andhra Pradesh until Saturday evening, while the number of people stranded remained unclear.

“12 million people are likely to be affected by the cyclone…We have deployed around 2,300 personnel which is the biggest ever,” said NDMA Vice-Chairman M Shashidhar Reddy. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is the chairman. NDMA said around 50 teams of the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF), equipped with medical and technical equipment, were undertaking rescue operations in the affected states of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal. Rescue operations were being aided by the army, air force and navy.

The Met department said the cyclone, with wind speed of up to 240 kmph, was likely to hit the coast between 6 and 8 in the evening and would stay for six hours before it weakened and spread in the interiors of the country. The IMD has predicted heavy rains in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.

“The cyclone, which is moving at the speed of 15 kmph is expected to hit the coast from 6 to 8 pm today and is likely to stay for six hours before moving ahead,” said L S Rathore, director general of the Indian Meteorological Department.

To ensure coordination between various ministries and departments, Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth on Saturday held a meeting with officials from the ministries of home, defence, petroleum, telecom, health, food, railways and drinking water and sanitation.

 

For distribution to victims, 500,000 tonnes of grains have been kept aside for distribution to flood victims. Food Minister KV Thomas said the grains were kept in government godowns in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. The petroleum ministry has kept aside supply of three days of diesel, petrol and LPG cylinders. Twelve diesel locomotives have been deployed by the Railways for movement of trains in emergency. Electrical trains are not being used as overhead electric wires are likely to get damaged because of the high-speed winds.

 

To create space for the rise in water levels following the anticipation of incessant rains, water level in the Hirakund Dam have been reduced by 10 meters from 189.41 meters to 179.41 meters.