New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the preparedness of states and Central ministries and concerned agencies on Monday to deal with the situation arising out of the Super Cyclonic Storm ‘Amphan’.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, along with senior officers and functionaries of the IMD, NDMA and NDRF were also present in the review meeting.
Prime Minister Modi has directed that all necessary measures be taken to complete evacuation of people from areas in the cyclone path and maintain adequate quantities of essential supplies.
“All concerned have been advised to make adequate preparations to ensure maintenance of essential services such as power, telecommunications in the event of damages caused to them and also to review their preparedness well in time and ensure quick resumption of services in the event of any disruption,” said a government statement released after the review meeting.
Meanwhile, the Indian Coast Guard and the Navy have deployed ships and helicopters for relief and rescue operations. Army and Air Force units in these states have also been put on standby.
Moreover, NDRF has deployed 25 teams in Odisha and West Bengal. Additionally, 12 teams have been kept on standby. The teams are equipped with requisite materials like boats, tree cutters, telecom equipment.
The MHA is in continuous touch with the state governments.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has already informed that the Super Cyclone is expected to make a landfall on West Bengal coast in the afternoon of May 20 as an extremely severe cyclonic storm with wind speeds ranging up to 195 kilometers per hour. It is expected to cause heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in the coastal districts of the state.
In West Bengal, districts of East Medinipur, South & North 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, and Kolkata are likely to be the worst affected. The storm is also likely to impact coastal districts of north Odisha including Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Bhadrak and Balasore.
The IMD has warned of storm surge of about 4-5 meter wave height above the astronomical tide, which would inundate low lying coastal areas of South & North 24 Parganas, and 3-4 meters wave height in East Medinipur, districts of West Bengal at the time of landfall. The cyclone has the potential to cause extensive damage in the coastal districts of West Bengal.
