New Delhi: The cyclonic storm ‘Gulab’ was likely to move nearly westwards and cross north Andhra Pradesh – south Odisha coasts between Kalingapatnam add Gopalpur during 1200-1500 hours UTC of Septmeber 26, 2021, the India Meteorological Department, warned today.
To deal with the situation arising out of a Cyclonic storm developing in the Bay of Bengal, the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) under the Chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba met here today and reviewed the preparedness of Central Ministries/Agencies and State Governments
Director-General, India Meteorological Department (IMD), briefed the Committee about the current status of the Deep Depression in the Bay of Bengal, which was likely to develop into a cyclonic storm, Gulab, by today evening.
The cyclonic storm is expected to cross the North Andhra Pradesh and South Odisha coasts by the evening of September 26, with wind speeds ranging from 75-85 kmph, gusting to 95 kmph, accompanied by heavy rainfall in the coastal districts of the states. It is likely to affect the districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, and Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and Ganjam and Gajapati in Odisha.
Chief Secretaries of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh apprised the Committee of the preparatory measures being undertaken to protect the population in the expected path of the cyclonic storm as also measures being taken to ensure that there is minimal damage to infrastructure such as telecom and power and other infrastructure in the aftermath of the cyclonic storm. Necessary arrangements have been made to ensure that Covid-19 protocols are followed.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed 18 teams in these states and additional teams are also kept in readiness. Rescue and relief teams of the Army and Navy along with ships and aircraft have also been deployed.
Reviewing the preparedness measures of the States and Central Agencies, Rajiv Gauba stressed that all preventive and precautionary measures should be taken by the concerned authorities of the State Governments and concerned agencies of the Centre, before the cyclonic storm makes landfall, as the aim should be to keep the loss of lives to near zero and minimize damage to property and infrastructure. The Cabinet Secretary assured the State Governments that all Central agencies are ready and will be available for assistance.
The meeting was attended by the Chief Secretaries of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, Secretaries of Ministries of Home Affairs and Power. Member (Telecom), Director-General National Disaster Response Force, Director-General, India Meteorological Department, CISC Integrated Defence Staff, and senior officers from the Ministry of Home Affairs also attended the meeting.
-global bihari bureau
