New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday spoke to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to take stock of the situation arising in the wake of Cyclone Gulab.
Earlier, the India Meteorological Department informed that Cyclone Gulab is likely to move nearly westwards and cross north Andhra Pradesh-South Odisha coasts between Kalingapatnam and Gopalpur, as a cyclonic storm by midnight.
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Informing about the interaction, PM Narendra Modi tweeted: “Spoke to Andhra Pradesh CM Shri YS Jagan and took stock of the situation arising in the wake of Cyclone Gulab. Assured all possible support from the Centre. I pray for everyone’s safety and well-being”.
In another tweet, he wrote: “Discussed the cyclone situation in parts of Odisha with CM Naveen Patnaik Ji. The Centre assures all possible support in overcoming this adversity. Praying for the safety and well-being of everybody”.
Review Meetings
Meanwhile, earlier in the day, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik chaired a virtual meeting in Delhi to review the preparedness in the view of Cyclone Gulab which is expected to hit the state by today evening.
The chief secretary of the state government, along with district collectors, also attended the meeting.
Addressing the media, CM Patnaik said, “Today I held a virtual meeting with the chief secretary and district collectors of Odisha to discuss the precautionary measure to be taken against 'Cyclone Gulab' in the state. There is a total of ten districts which will be affected by the cyclone by today evening”, news agency ANI reported.
Odisha began the evacuation drive in the state ahead of cyclone alerts issued by India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Several National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams have been deployed in 11 coastal districts of south Odisha.
“We have deployed a total of 24 NDRF and 42 ODRAF teams in 11 coastal areas and south Odisha districts. More than 5,000 people were evacuated in Gajapati and Ganjam districts," Special Relief Commissioner PK Jena said, as quoted by ANI.
“In addition, schools and colleges of Ganjam, Gajapati and other districts will also be closed tomorrow,” he added.
On Saturday, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy held a review meeting over the preparedness in wake of the cyclone alert and directed the officials to take all necessary steps, the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) informed.
Officials informed CM Reddy that they have alerted district collectors and suggested taking all necessary steps. They said control rooms were set up village secretariat-wise and added that they have readied disaster management staff in Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam districts.
The district collectors are taking steps to set up relief camps at required locations, the officials stated.
As per the CMO, the Chief Minister directed the officials to be alert and take necessary steps as there are chances of heavy rains after the cyclonic storm crosses the coast.
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Latest Updates On Cyclone Gulab
Informing about the prevailing situation, Special Relief Commissioner PK Jena said that Cyclone Gulab is currently located 180 km southeast of Gopalpur and it will most likely make landfall from late evening to midnight, between Kalingapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and Gopalpur in Odisha.
“We'll get a much clearer picture in next 2-3 hours about its path and exact time of landfall, it's expected around midnight...we are anticipating about 70-80 km windspeed with heavy to very heavy rainfall and extremely heavy in some places,”: the Special Relief Commissioner stated.
He also informed that in view of Cyclone Gulab, 42 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams, 24 NDRF teams, and 103 State fire services will be deployed.
“At 08.30 hrs IST of today, 'Gulab' over northwest and adjoining the west-central Bay of Bengal, centred near 18.4°N/86.4°E. To cross north Andhra Pradesh-south Odisha coasts between Kalingapatnam and Gopalpur, as a CS around midnight of today,” IMD wrote in a tweet earlier.
(With Agency Inputs)