Chhattisgarh says its ready for Phailin

The Chhattisgarh government said Saturday that it had made all arrangements across 27 districts to face cyclone Phailin. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has been kept ready to deal with any situation, top officials said.

The state government sounded an alert after rain and fiercely blowing winds pounded several areas of Chhattisgarh bordering Odisha late Saturday evening.

Chief Secretary Sunil Kumar held a meeting with Additional Chief Secretary (Home) N.K. Aswal, Director General of Police (DGP) Ramniwas and other top officials, and reviewed the arrangements made to deal with Phailin. Kumar instructed district collectors to make all arrangements on a war footing in their respective districts.

Chief Minister Raman Singh appealed to people to keep calm in the face of the impending natural disaster, and refrain from paying heed to rumour.

Doctors at government hospitals across the state have been instructed to remain ready to provide any necessary medical aid to cyclone-hit people.

The weather department has predicted heavy rain and high-velocity winds in all the seven districts of Bastar district, which shares a border with Odisha.