Cyclone Phailin To Affect 1.5 Lakh People In East Godavari

Necessary precautions have been taken in the East Godavari district to meet any eventuality in view of the looming Phailin cyclone, said M Ravichandra, Cyclone Special Officer of the East Godavari district.

Ravichandra reviewed the mitigation arrangements in the coastal areas in the district with the mandal special officers, Tashildars and MPDOs through a video conference from the collectorate at Kakinada, on Saturday.

He cautioned all the officers to be on high alert in view of the severity of the impending cyclone and to be available in the respective places till normalcy prevails.

Necessary material like essential commodities, road clearing equipment, sand bags, generators and medicines have been kept ready in their appropriate places for use in emergency.

Ravichandra said that all the official teams have reached their respective places, and are on duty.

District collector Neethu Prasad said that the cyclone might affect 1.5 lakh people in the district, and that instructions have been given to evacuate over 20,000 people to safer places from low-lying areas.

She further said that a 40-member National Disaster Relief team has arrived in the district to assist in the relief and rescue works. (INN)