Cyclone Fani: Pre-emptive measures ensured zero loss of life at sea, says Coast Guard

Pre-emptive measures undertaken by the Indian Coast Guard like alerting the fisherfolk and merchant marine community resulted in zero loss of life at sea during Cyclone Fani, the maritime security agency said Sunday.

In a statement, the Coast Guard said on April 24, when Fani was in its formative stages, it started working on risk assessment of the vulnerabilities on eastern coast. All the seven Indian Coast Guard (ICG) stations and six of its district headquarters on the east coast were put on alert.

"No loss of life has been reported at sea. ICG Disaster Response Teams are assisting the state administration in the relief operations," the Coast Guard said.

Around 14 ICG ships and four aircraft were tasked daily at sea to warn fishing and merchant marine community since April 24, it said.

"ICG ships, aircraft and shore based remote operating stations relayed warning to fishing and merchant mariners on very high frequency (VHF) along the entire east coast," the Coast Guard said.

Warnings were also broadcast in regional languages for the benefit of local fishing community. Contingency meetings were held with authorities at Mandapam, Puducherry, Chennai, Vishakapatnam, Paradip, Bubhaneshwar, Haldia and Kolkata to chalk out mobilisation plans, it added.

Special community interaction programmes were conducted at 13 fishing hamlets with participation of local community leaders to ensure no fishing boat ventured at sea, the agency said.

Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres (MRCC) at Chennai and Mumbai were tasked to update the merchant mariners over Navigational Telex and International Safety Net.

Neighbouring MRCCs were also alerted to keep a lookout for stranded Indian vessels and provide assistance.

"As the cyclone made landfall in the forenoon of May 3, five capital ships of ICG braving the inclement weather and rough seas proceeded towards the Odisha coast for assisting the state administration in response and relief operation and undertaking damage assessment," it said.

ICG ships were stocked up with food packets, potable water and relief material.

"A total of 34 Coast Guard Disaster Response Teams (DRT) were put to action along with lifesaving equipment, basic relief material, food packets and water. Emergency Medical Teams were formed along with Critical Care Ambulance and Emergency Medicines at Vishakapatnam, Gopalpur, Paradip, Bhubaneshwar, Haldia and Kolkata," the maritime agency added.

The death toll in Cyclone Fani rose to 29 Sunday, two days after the "extremely severe" storm barrelled through coastal Odisha, causing widespread destruction and leaving hundreds grappling with water shortage and power cuts.