The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has kept its 64 teams ready to deal with any emergency before cyclonic storm Jawad moved towards Odisha-Andhra Pradesh coast on Friday and made landfall in Odisha's Puri district. The cyclone is expected to reach north Andhra Pradesh and Puri coast of Odisha by Sunday afternoon. This information was given by Andhra Pradesh Special Relief Commissioner Kannababu here today.
Indian Navy ships and aircraft have been kept ready to deal with Cyclone Jawad. With this, 13 teams and 4 diving teams are ready for rescue and relief operations at different places including Odisha, Visakhapatnam. The Eastern Naval Command and officers in charge of the Navy in the Andhra-Pradesh and Odisha region have carried out preparatory activities to deal with the cyclone and are in constant touch with the state administration to provide assistance as required.
Four ships have been asked to remain on alert along with humanitarian aid and disaster relief diving and medical teams to provide assistance to the most affected areas along the Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coast. Andhra Pradesh Special Relief Commissioner Kannababu said that five districts of north Andhra Pradesh, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam East and West Godavari are expected to be the most affected. On this issue, the Chief Minister of the state Jagan Mohan Reddy held a review meeting in his Secretariat this morning and he has also given orders to the District Collectors in this regard.
The Collectors were informed to take the assistance of Naval aircraft at Naval Air Stations, Visakhapatnam and Chennai for carrying out aerial survey of the affected areas, evacuation of casualties and drop of relief material as required.
Fishermen in Coastal Andhra Pradesh were told not to venture into the sea for the next three days and as per the probable path of the cyclone as stated by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), it may make landfall at Puri coast and return to sea. At the time of hitting the coast, there is a possibility of heavy destruction with wind speed of 80 to 100 kmph.
In a press note issued by the Andhra Pradesh Secretariat, it has been said that the NDRF has 19 teams in Andhra Pradesh, 7 in Tamil Nadu and 2 teams in Andaman and Nicobar. They have been deployed in consultation with the Director General of NDRF and local authorities. On the other hand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the preparations to deal with the situation late last night. He had directed the officials to take all possible measures to take the people to safer places.
Ichhapuram, Palasa and Parvathipuram in Srikakulam district have been receiving heavy rains since last night and so far more than 100 rehabilitation centers have been set up in the district administration. The state government has appointed IAS officer Arun Kumar as a special officer. Around 15,000 people have been given shelter in relief centers along the coastal areas of the district. Trains passing through these districts have been canceled and their resumption will take place only after Sunday. Educational institutions in 5 coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh will remain closed till Monday. A control room has also been set up in the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh to deal with the cyclone.