Gujarat government alert to deal with Biparjoy cyclone, Chief Minister holds emergency meeting

Gandhinagar (IANS) | Preparations are on in full swing in Gujarat to deal with the possible threat of Cyclone Biparjoy. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, an important meeting was held at the State Emergency Operation Center under the chairmanship of CM Bhupendra Patel. In which Chief Minister Patel reviewed the preparations. During the meeting, Relief Commissioner Alok Pandey informed the Chief Minister about the preparations of the state government. He also told what kind of steps the state government is taking to reduce the loss of life and property.

Over 47,000 people have been evacuated to safer places from eight districts of Gujarat. It was also said that the work of evacuating the people of the affected areas to safe places would be completed by Wednesday evening.

During the meeting, senior principal secretaries, secretaries and other officers gave reports related to the preparations of the concerned departments to the chief minister. A total of 47,113 people have been evacuated, including 4,462 from Junagadh district, 17,739 from Kutch, 8,542 from Jamnagar, 3,469 from Porbandar, 4,863 from Dwarka, 1,605 from Gir Somnath, 1,936 from Morbi and 4,497 from Rajkot, officials said.

Giving information, the release commissioner said that 18 teams of NDRF and 12 teams of SDRF have been deployed in the districts likely to be affected by the cyclone. NDRF teams are deployed in Kutch, Dwarka, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Porbandar, Gir-Somnath, Morbi and Valsad. Whereas, SDRF teams have been placed in Kutch, Jamnagar, Dwarka, Junagadh, Porbandar, Gir Somnath, Morbi, Patan and Banaskantha. A reserve team is deployed in Surat.

As a precautionary measure, more than 4,000 hoardings have been removed from various districts. Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Limited (PGVCL) has kept 597 teams ready to restore power after the effects of the cyclone abate.

Mohanty, regional director of the Central Meteorological Department, has also expressed the possibility of rain on June 15 in districts like Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Patan of North Gujarat. The state government has given instructions to make necessary preparations in these districts.

In view of Biparjoy cyclone, shelter homes have been set up in government schools in the coastal areas. In which medicines along with food items are also present in sufficient quantity. Instructions have been given to keep health centers, government hospitals and private health facilities near these areas ready.

In view of the impact on telecommunication services during the cyclone, facilities of satellite phones and ham radio have been made available. Mobile service companies have also been asked to keep alternative towers operational as a precautionary measure. The state government is working in coordination with the concerned districts for the rescue operation.

–IANS