CM Kiran Kumar Reddy said that all possible measures have been taken by the State Government for the rescue and relief operations related to Cyclone Phailin.
Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Saturday said that all possible measures have been taken by the State Government for the rescue and relief operations related to Cyclone Phailin.
He said that there was no need to panic and that the State Government will take care to save every life and the property of the people, and also the cattle.
The Chief Minister appealed to the people to cooperate with the State Government, particularly to those in the low-lying areas to move to safer places.
He said that food, medicine, drinking water, boats, rescue teams etc. were in place, and that the entire State Government machinery was on high alert to handle the situation.
Army, Navy, Air Force, NDRF, Revenue teams etc. are in place now, he added, and said that fishermen's safety has also been taken care of.
Helicopters, fire tenders and water tankers are also being deployed in required numbers to help the affected people.
The Chief Minister said tyat more than 1 lakh people have been evacuated so far, and that the evacuation is in full swing. However, most people are reluctant to move to safer places and are needing to be convinced.
He averred that the people's safety was the Government's main concern. He said officials of various departments have taken positions and District Collectors of the affected districts were monitoring the situation and coordinating the work by the various departments.
Reddy said that officials have been directed to take care of the fishermen, and that of the 22,994 boats, only 22 boats are to reach the shore yet, and that they are also being traced.
He said enough food has been stocked for the people in the cyclone shelters, as also milk for children, kerosene, petrol, gas and drinking water. He said ministers were also monitoring the situation from time to time.
He added that army and civil doctors' teams with medicines and surgical equipment have also reached the spot to take up relief works. Power saws have been placed at different places to cut fallen trees to clear the roads, he mentioned.
The Chief Minister said that artificial bridges are also in place to replace the breached bridges, and that communication networks and ham radios are also in place now. He said that funds would not be a problem, and that the officials concerned can draw funds as and when required.
Ministers K Jana Reddy, Anam Ramnarayan Reddy, Ponnala Lakshmiah, Sridhar Babu, Maheedhar Reddy, Sudarshan Reddy, T G Venkatesh, former Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao, Chief Secretary Dr. P K Mohanty, DGP B Prasada Rao, Commissioner Disaster Management Dr. T Radha, Special Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries and other officials attended the meeting.
The Chief Secretary informed that 237 villages in 11 mandals of Srikakulam district, 6 gram panchayats and 22 hamlets in 2 villages of Vizianagaram district, and 67 villages in 10 mandals of Visakhapatnam district are affected by the cyclone. Round-the-clock control rooms with telephones etc, were opened at state/district/mandal levels.
He added that senior IAS officers were deputed as Special Officers to assist the district administration in rescue and relief operations, and that the officers were already in the respective districts. The district collectors have also appointed supervisory officers at the mandal levels.
All people's representatives from sarpanches to MLAs, MPs and Ministers are being involved in the rescue and relief operations, he said.
The DGP said that enough police and civil people are being organised to take up the relief works. As many as 19 teams of NDRF personnel with 4 boats with each team for rescue and evacuation equipments have already been positioned. Five columns of army personnel (5x110) with engineers, communication specialists and medical teams with all equipment have already reached the destinations, he added. About 10 helicopters have been requisitioned from the Government of India, and they too will be positioned. (INN)