Delhi, December 2: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday chaired a high level meeting to review the preparedness of States and Central Ministries and concerned agencies to deal with the situation arising out of the likely formation of Cyclone Jawad in Bay of Bengal.
India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed that low pressure region in the Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify into Cyclone Jawad and is expected to reach coast of North Andhra Pradesh – Odisha around morning of Saturday, with the wind speed ranging upto 100 kmph. It is likely to cause heavy rainfall in the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal.
The IMD has issued red alert (Heavy to very heavy rainfall) in Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri and Jagatsinghpur districts of Odisha on December 4 while orange alert has been issued in Kendrapara, Cuttack, Khurda, Nayagarh, Kandhamal, Rayagada and Koraput districts after the cyclonic storm reaches near the coast. It also issued yellow al indicating heavy rainfall in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur and Malkangiri districts on the same day.
It was revealed in the meeting that NDRF has pre-positioned 29 teams which are equipped with boats, tree-cutters, telecom equipment in the States and has kept 33 teams on standby.
Indian Coast Guard and the Navy have deployed ships and helicopters for relief, search and rescue operations. Air Force and Engineer task force units of the Army, with boats and rescue equipment, are on standby for deployment. Surveillance aircraft and helicopters are carrying out serial surveillance along the coast. Disaster Relief teams and Medical Teams are standby at locations along the eastern coast.
The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary to PM, Cabinet Secretary, Home Secretary, DG NDRF and DG IMD.
The Prime Minister directed officials to take every possible measure to ensure that people are safely evacuated and to ensure maintenance of all essential services such as Power, Telecommunications, health, drinking water etc. and that they are restored immediately in the event of any disruption. He further directed them to ensure adequate storage of essential medicines and supplies and to plan for unhindered movement. He also directed for 24×7 functioning of control rooms.
