Crisis management committee takes stock of cyclone preparedness

The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) on Monday took stock of the preparedness in Maharashtra and Gujarat which are likely to be impacted by the cyclone Ockhi.

An official release said that the very severe cyclonic storm Ockhi over east central Arabian sea moved further northwards with a speed of 13 kmph early morning on Monday.

It is very likely to move north by north eastward and weaken gradually. It will then cross coasts of south Gujarat and adjoining north Maharashtra near Surat as a deep depression by midnight of December 5.

The NCMC, chaired by Cabinet Secretary P. K. Sinha, also took note of another depression being formed in the South East Bay of Bengal adjoining the South Andaman Sea and reviewed the preparedness activities undertaken by ths states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The release said that necessary advisories have been issued to fishermen and others. The Chief Secretaries of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Andaman and Nicobar Islands have taken necessary steps to deal with any eventualities.

Sinha also held a video conference with the Chief Secretaries and the senior officers of the affected States and UTs to review situation.

The meeting was also attended by the officials of Ministries of Home Affairs, Defence, and Eartth Sciences, the National Disaster Management Authority, the Indian Navy, the Indian Air Force, Indian Coast Guard, the Indian Meteorological Department etc.

The release said the government agencies at the Centre and the affected states were regularly monitoring the cyclonic storm and are conducting necessary relief and rescue operations. The coast guard, air force, Navy, NDRF and local government agencies are also continuing the search and rescue operations.

A total of 243 fishermen in Tamil Nadu, 250 in Kerala and 1,047 persons in Lakshadweep have been rescued so far.

Relief material is also being provided to inmates in relief camps set up by the government agencies.

The release said that the Central Government have deployed ten ships, three aircraft and one helicopter of Coast Guard and ten ships, two aircraft and two helicopters of the Navy.

One aircraft of the Indian Air Force and three of its helicopters have also been deployed for rescue and relief work.

--IANS

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