Cyclone Hudhud: AP CM Naidu Holds Video Conference

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu directed officials to ensure that all rescue and relief operations were in place in the coastal districts after an alert was sounded for Cyclone Hudhud.

The cyclone is expected to cross the Bay Of Bengal coast on October 12 between Visakhapatnam in AP and Gopalpur in Odisha.

In a video conference with officials from different districts, the Chief Minister reviewed the competence of the State in disaster management.

He asked the collectors of all coastal districts to take measures to prevent loss of life, and ensure that damage to properties, if any, was minimal.

He also asked the collectors and officials to set up relief camps and evacuate people from areas which faced the cyclone threat.

The Chief Minister directed them to stock essential commodities for the relief camps, and ensure that there would be no food shortage.

He also advised officials to ensure that the health camps had continuous power supply and were kept hygienic.

Naidu also directed officials to ensure that fishermen did not venture into the seas, and asked them to submit the latest reports on the Cyclone's threat to the State.

He added that BSNL and Airtel had come forward to send continuous updates to people about the Cyclone threat. SMSs would be sent in Telugu to the people, he said.

This apart, officials had been directed to give updates about the cyclone through All India Radio (AIR).

Recalling AP's emergency rescue and relief operations during the Rajahmundry Cyclone and Odisha floods, the Chief Minister said that officials needed to work with the same spirit.

He added that the Central government was sending four National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams to the State. Of the four teams, 2 NDRF teams had already arrived, he informed.

The Chief Minister said that the Army and Air Force too had come forward to help the State.

Chief Secretary I Y R Krishna Rao said that the holidays of the State government's employees for the weekend would be cancelled as they were expected to take part in the relief measures.

Senior IAS Officer Arvind Kumar would be deputed to Visakhapatnam to coordinate with the NDRF's operations, and monitor rescue and relief efforts.

Meanwhile, Sukumar has been appointed to monitor the disaster management efforts of the state. Principal secretaries of various departments J C Sharma, Sambasiva Rao, Jawahar Reddy, Sam Bob and other officials were present. (INN)