As Cyclone Biparjoy is expected to cross the Gujarat coast on June 15, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday directed officials to take every possible measure to ensure that people living in vulnerable locations are safely evacuated. Modi chaired a high-level meeting to review the the preparedness of the ministries, central agencies and the Gujarat government to deal with the situation.
The officials have been instructed to ensure maintenance of all essential services such as power, telecommunications, health and drinking water, and that they are restored immediately in the event of damage. Modi also directed to ensure safety of animals and 24x7 functioning of control rooms, the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclone Biparjoy is expected to cross Saurashtra and Kutch between Mandvi in Gujarat and Karachi in Pakistan near Jakhau Port by June 15 noon as a very severe cyclonic storm with maximum sustained wind speed of 125-135 kmph gusting to 145 kmph. The IMD has predicted extremely heavy rain falls in Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka and Jamnagar districts and very heavy rainfall in Porbandar, Rajkot, Morbi and Junagarh districts on June 14-15.
The IMD has been issuing regular bulletins since the onset of the cyclonic system on June 6.
During the meeting, it was informed that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is reviewing the situation 24x7 and is in touch with the Gujarat government and the central agencies concerned. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has pre-positioned 12 teams which are equipped with boats, tree-cutters and telecom equipment and has kept 15 other teams on standby.
Home Minister Amit Shah, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Cabinet Secretary and other senior officers were present at the meeting.
The prime minister was briefed about measures taken by the Gujarat government to deal with the cyclone. He was informed that review meetings with the district administration have been held at the level of chief minister and the entire state administration machinery is geared up to meet any exigency situation.
The 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 (DRTs) and Medical Teams (MTs) of Army, Navy and Coast Guard are also on standby, said an official release.
