Cyclone Fani: Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairs high level meeting to review preparedness

During the meeting, PM was briefed on the likely path of the cyclone, and the ongoing precautionary and preparatory measures being undertaken.

Cyclone Fani is expected to hit the coast of Odisha tomorrow. Nearly eight lakh people are being evacuated from low-lying areas of the state as a precautionary measure./ narendramodi

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting to review preparedness for Cyclone Fani. The meeting was attended by the Cabinet Secretary, the Principal Secretary to the PM, the Additional Principal Secretary to the PM, the Home Secretary, and other senior officials from the IMD, NDRF, NDMA, and PMO. During the meeting, PM was briefed on the likely path of the cyclone, and the ongoing precautionary and preparatory measures being undertaken. Modi also instructed senior officers of the Union Government to maintain close coordination with officers of the affected States. These include the provision of adequate resources; deployment of teams from NDRF and the armed forces; arrangements to provide drinking water; and standby systems to restore power and telecom services.

Chaired a high level meeting to review the preparedness relating to Cyclone Fani. The Central Government is ready to provide all possible assistance that would be required.

Prayers for the safety and well-being of our citizens. pic.twitter.com/GLoCzmV1io — Chowkidar Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 2, 2019

After reviewing the emerging situation, the prime minister instructed senior officers to ensure preventive measures, and also to take effective steps for relief and rescue operations, as required. Cyclone Fani is expected to hit the coast of Odisha tomorrow. Nearly eight lakh people are being evacuated from low-lying areas of the state as a precautionary measure. Other states on the eastern coast, such as West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, are also expected to be affected by the cyclone. Fani lays centred over West Central Bay of Bengal, about 430 km south-southwest of Puri in Odisha, 225 km south-southeast of Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and 650 km south-southwest of Digha in West Bengal, as per the latest bulletin of the India Meteorological Department (IMD). (agency inputs) ALSO WATCH: Fani Cyclone: People try and take refuge at safer places