Cyclone Montha
NEW DELHI: National Crisis Management Committee, chaired by cabinet secretary T V Somanathan, Saturday reviewed preparedness for Cyclone Montha in Bay of Bengal that is most likely to hit Andhra Pradesh coast around Kakinada, between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, on Oct 28 as a “severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph”. In view of alerts for the cyclone given by ndia Meteorological Department (IMD), fishermen have been advised not to venture into the southwest, adjoining central Bay of Bengal, along and off Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Yanam (of Puducherry), and along and off Odisha coast from Oct 26 to Oct 29. Reviewing the preparedness, the cabinet secretary stressed the need to ensure that no lives were lost and damage to property and infrastructure was minimised. “In case of damages, essential services should be restored in the shortest possible time,” said an official statement, referring to the directives issued by Somanathan to representatives of central and state agencies who attended the review meeting. “National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has kept teams in readiness and (these) will be mobilised by Oct 26… Rescue and relief teams of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Indian Coast Guard along with their ships and aircraft have been kept in readiness. Indian Coast Guard has already shepherded over 900 ships to the jetty/shores so far, and the remaining have been alerted to return to the coast,” said the statement.
