Heavy rains in Coastal areas, CM orders relief measures

Chief Minister K Rosaiah on Monday directed the district Collectors of East Godavari, West Godavari, Visakhapatnam and Nellore to immediately plunge into action and initiate measures to prevent loss of life and property.

Taking note that the districts are the most affected areas due to heavy to very heavy rains, the Chief Minister asked the Collectors to evacuate people from the low lying and vulnerable areas to safer places wherever and whenever required. He also asked them to immediately open control rooms in these districts.

The Chief Minister held an emergency review meeting on the latest situation with Chief Secretary SV Prasad, Commissioner for Disaster Management, T Radha and other officials. He directed the Disaster Management department to immediately to open a control room in the State headquarters. Following directions from the Chief Minister, entire District Administration in the State was immediately alerted. Control Rooms were also established at District, Division and Mandal Levels and Collectors were instructed to monitor the situation round the clock.

The District Collectors concerned were authorized to draw amounts necessary for providing immediate relief in the camps for food, drinking water etc., as per the norms of Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) under TR-27. The District Collectors were also directed to keep watch of the situation round the clock.

The District Collectors were instructed to alert the people living in the low-lying coastal areas and other affected districts and were instructed to move the people to the safer places. Further they were instructed to take all necessary precautionary measures. The District Collectors were also instructed to make necessary arrangements for evacuating the affected people and the animals to safer places like cyclone shelters, school buildings, gram panchayat offices, public health centres, high schools, rice mills, cinema theatres etc if necessary.

The Army, Navy and Air Force were requested to be ready for deployment of forces in case of necessity. Alternative communication network such as the Ham Radio network and Satellite phones were kept ready at the disposal of district administration. The District Collectors in coordination with Civil Supplies Department were instructed to keep adequate food stocks in readiness including drinking water sachets, emergency lamps/lights etc.

Medical and Health department were instructed to keep sufficient quantities of essential medicines and 108 and 104 medical ambulance services were kept ready for providing medical facilities/ first aid to the people who have been affected. The Electricity department was instructed to take special care to monitor the power situation so as to avoid human loss due to electric shocks, short circuits etc., and protect the people.

The APSRTC was instructed to keep sufficient transport facilities ready for movement of people in case of evacuation and supply of essentials. The General Manager, South Central Railway was requested to ensure constant vigil on the railway lines, bridges etc till cyclone recedes.

The Police and Fire departments were asked to keep constant vigil and be in touch with district administration. The District Collectors were instructed to alert Medical and Health Department and Animal Husbandry Dept. to keep stock of essential medicines and make available the services of medical and Para-medical staff at short notice.

The District Collectors were instructed to ensure sanitation and availability of power and drinking water at cyclone shelters and other places where the evacuated people are being kept. For this purpose, the Village level officers and officials of Panchayat Raj (PR) Department were directed to be alerted.

The R and B and PR Department were alerted to keep vigil on roads and keep close watch on all bridges and culverts in vulnerable areas. The Revenue (DM) Dept. was in touch with National Disaster Response Force, Army, Navy etc to keep their forces ready for rescue operations at short notice. Teams have been kept ready to do farmer wise enumeration for the crop damage.

Enumeration work will be taken up once water recedes. Instructions have been given to complete enumeration within 10 days and submit detailed report along with list of beneficiaries as per proforma communicated. The area in about 2,35,643 were submerged but not fully damaged. Actual damage will be known only after detailed enumeration after water recedes, the officials said.