Armed Forces prepare to mitigate Cyclone YAAS; keep 16 transport aircraft, 26 helicopters on standby
New Delhi, May 23 :
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday chaired a high level meeting with concerned central and states agencies to review the preparedness to deal with the situation arising out of cyclone Yaas. He directed senior officers to work in close coordination with states to ensure safe evacuation of people from high-risk areas and instructed all concerned departments to ensure timely evacuation of those involved in off-shore activities. The Prime Minister also asked officials to ensure proper coordination and planning with
PM Modi reviews
state governments to ensure no disruptions in Covid treatment and vaccination in hospitals while officials should issue advisories and instructions on do’s and dont’s during the cyclone be made available in easy to understand and local language to citizens of the affected districts. India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed that cyclone Yaas is expected to cross West Bengal and north Odisha coasts by May 26 evening with the wind speed ranging 155- 165 kmph gusting to 185 kmph which will cause heavy rainfall in the coastal districts of West Bengal and north Odisha along with storm surge of about 2-4 metres in costal areas of West Bengal and Odisha. Union Home Ministry has been reviewing the situation 24X7 and is in touch with the State Governments/UTs and the Central Agencies concerned and has already released first instalment of SDRF in advance to all States.
PM Modi was informed that the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has pre-positioned 46 teams which are equipped with boats, tree-cutters, telecom equipment in five States and Union Territories while 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 & Natural Gas has taken measures to secure all oil installations in the sea and to bring back their shipping vessels to safe harbour whereas the Ministry of Power has activated emergency response systems and is keeping in readiness transformers, DG sets and equipment 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.
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has issued advisory to the Sates/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).
NDRF is assisting the State agencies in their preparedness for evacuating people from the vulnerable locations and is also continuously holding community awareness campaign on how to deal with the cyclonic situation.
The meeting was attended by Home Minister, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister, Minister of State for Home Affairs, Cabinet Secretary, Secretaries of Ministries/ Departments of Home, Telecommunications, Fisheries, Civil Aviation, Power, Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Earth Sciences, Chairman Railway Board, Members & Member Secretary of NDMA, Director Generals of IMD and NDRF, and senior officers of PMO, MHA.
tion and planning with state governments to ensure no disruptions in Covid treatment and vaccination in hospitals while officials should issue advisories and instructions on do’s and dont’s during the cyclone be made available in easy to understand and local language to citizens of the affected districts. India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed that cyclone Yaas is expected to cross West Bengal and north Odisha coasts by May 26 evening with the wind speed ranging 155- 165 kmph gusting to 185 kmph which will cause heavy rainfall in the coastal districts of West Bengal and north Odisha along with storm surge of about 2-4 metres in costal areas of West Bengal and Odisha. Union Home Ministry has been reviewing the situation 24X7 and is in touch with the State Governments/UTs and the Central Agencies concerned and has already released first instalment of SDRF in advance to all States.
PM Modi was informed that the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has pre-positioned 46 teams which are equipped with boats, tree-cutters, telecom equipment in five States and Union Territories while 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 & Natural Gas has taken measures to secure all oil installations in the sea and to bring back their shipping vessels to safe harbour whereas the Ministry of Power has activated emergency response systems and is keeping in readiness transformers, DG sets and equipment 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.
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has issued advisory to the Sates/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).
NDRF is assisting the State agencies in their preparedness for evacuating people from the vulnerable locations and is also continuously holding community awareness campaign on how to deal with the cyclonic situation.
The meeting was attended by Home Minister, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister, Minister of State for Home Affairs, Cabinet Secretary, Secretaries of Ministries/ Departments of Home, Telecommunications, Fisheries, Civil Aviation, Power, Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Earth Sciences, Chairman Railway Board, Members & Member Secretary of NDMA, Director Generals of IMD and NDRF, and senior officers of PMO, MHA.
Armed Forces have commenced preparations to mitigate the impact of Cyclone YAAS, which is expected to hit the Eastern Coast on May 26.
Indian Air Force (IAF) has airlifted 950 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel and 70 tonnes of load from Jamnagar, Varanasi, Patna and Arakonnam to Kolkata, Bhubaneswar and Port Blair in 15 Transport Aircraft, as on Sunday, HQ Eastern Naval Command said in a release here.
Sixteen transport aircraft and 26 helicopters are on standby for immediate deployment.
Indian Navy, fresh from Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) and rescue operations on the Western Coast, has moved 10 HADR pallets to Bhubaneswar and Kolkata, while five HADR pallets are ready at Port Blair.
Eight ships of Eastern Naval Command and Andaman and Nicobar Command have been embarked with HADR Bricks to provide succour to the people likely to be impacted.
Four diving and 10 flood relief columns have been pre-positioned at Kolkata, Bhubaneswar and Chilika for rendering assistance to civil administration at short notice.
Seven flood relief teams and two diving teams are ready at different locations in Andaman and Nicobar Islands to deal with any eventuality.
In addition, Naval Aircraft and helicopters in Visakhapatnam and Port Blair are on operational readiness to undertake search and rescue missions.
Eight flood relief columns and three Engineer Task Forces of the Indian Army are ready for immediate deployment on requisition by the civil administration.
The Armed Forces are in constant touch with the civil administration of the affected states.
Armed Forces teams are aware of the need to keep the road and rail links open to ensure uninterrupted supply of life saving oxygen and drugs required for treatment at COVID-19 hospitals. The Armed Forces remain ready to mitigate the impact of the impending cyclone, save lives and provide succor to the fellow citizens.
