Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed all concerned departments to ensure timely evacuation of those involved in off-shore activities in view of Cyclone Yaas which is expected to cross West Bengal and north Odisha coasts on Wednesday evening.
He also instructed officers to work in close coordination with states to ensure safe evacuation of people from high-risk areas.
Mr Modi took a high level meeting yesterday to review the preparedness of States and Central Ministries and Agencies concerned to deal with the situation arising out of Cyclone ‘Yaas’.
He spoke about the need to ensure that time duration of outages of power supply and communication network are minimum and are restored swiftly.
The Prime Minister also asked officials to ensure proper coordination and planning with state governments to ensure no disruptions in Covid treatment and vaccination in hospitals.
Mr Modi directed officials that advisories and instructions on do’s and don’ts during the cyclone be made available in easily understandable local language to citizens of the affected districts.
He spoke about the need to involve various stakeholders like coastal communities, industries, etc by directly reaching out to them and sensitizing them.
During the meeting, India Meteorological Department, IMD informed that Cyclone Yaas is likely to intensify into a “very severe cyclonic storm” and is expected to cross the Odisha and the West Bengal coasts on Wednesday evening with the wind speed ranging 155 to 165 kilometers per hour gusting to 185 kilometers per hour.
It is likely to cause heavy rainfall in the coastal districts of West Bengal and north Odisha.
IMD has also warned of storm surge of about 2 to 4 metres in costal areas of West Bengal and Odisha.
The Prime Minister was informed that the Cabinet Secretary has taken a meeting of National Crisis Management Committee on Saturday with Chief Secretaries of all the Coastal States and UTs and Central Ministries and Agencies concerned.
Home Ministry is reviewing the situation 24×7 and is in touch with the State Governments and UTs and the Central Agencies concerned.
NDRF has pre-positioned 46 teams which are equipped with boats, tree-cutters, telecom equipment, etc. in 5 States and UT.
In addition, 13 teams are being airlifted today for deployment and has kept 10 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 Army, with boats and rescue equipment, are on standby for deployment.
Seven ships with Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Units are on standby along western coast.
Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has taken measures to secure all oil installations in the sea and to bring back their shipping vessels to safe harbour.
Ministry of Power has activated emergency response systems and is keeping in readiness transformers, DG sets and equipment, etc. for immediate restoration of electricity.
Ministry of Telecom is keeping all the telecom towers and exchanges under constant watch and is fully geared to restore telecom network.
Health Ministry has issued advisory to the Sates and UTs, likely to be affected, for health sector preparedness and response on COVID in affected areas.
Ministry of Port, Shipping and Waterways has taken measures to secure all shipping vessels and has deployed emergency vessels, Tugs.
The meeting was attended by Home Minister, Amit Shah, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister, Minister of State for Home, Cabinet Secretary, Secretaries of Ministries and Departments of Home, Telecommunications, Fisheries, Civil Aviation, Power, Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Earth Sciences, Chairman Railway Board, Members and Member Secretary of NDMA, DGs of IMD and NDRF and senior officers of PMO and Home Ministry.