With the extremely severe cyclonic storm ‘Fani’ expected to bring heavy rainfall and gale to the north coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh on Thursday and Friday, the officials are on their toes to keep the possible casualties at bay.
Arrangements are being made for evacuation of people from the vulnerable areas. Rehabilitation centres are being readied and relief material are being stocked up to meet any exigency situation. Chief Secretary L.V. Subrahmanyam on Wednesday held a video conference with the Collectors of Visakhapatnam, Viziangaram and Srikakulam districts for which high alerts have been sounded and took stock of the mitigation strategies.
‘80 villages vulnerable’
Visakhapatnam Collector K. Bhaskar conducted a series of meetings to take stock of the situation. He asked the officials to be prepared with the contingency plans for evacuation of people in the vulnerable mandals. “As many as 80 villages and wards in Bheemunipatnam, Atchutapuram, Parawada, Peda Gantyada, Gajuwaka, Visakhapatnam Rural and Urban mandals are likely to be affected,” the Collector told the mandal-level officials.
The mandal level officials have been instructed to set up rehabilitation centres as per need. The Collector asked the officials to inspect the centres and ensure basic amenities such as electricity, fuel, water, toilets, gas cylinders and cooks and generators there.
People living in kutcha houses and old buildings will be shifted to rehabilitation centres if needed. A police constable and home guard, equipped with wireless sets, will be posted at each rehabilitation centre. Earth moving equipment such as excavators and cranes are being readied to clear the fallen trees and electricity poles.
24X7 assistance
“Tahsildars and officials of Panchayat Raj, Roads and Buildings, Irrigation and Electricity Department have been told to make themselves available at their respective headquarters round the clock,” Mr. Bhaskar said.
Meanwhile, officials of Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC), Public Works Department and the Central Public Works (CPW) have been instructed to ensure that all the tanks have adequate reserves of water.
The Collector urged the mobile network service providers to be prepared with alternative plans to ensure uninterrupted connectivity as there could be a disruption of power supply.
The Collector asked the officials to make available adequate food packets and drinking water at railway stations to prevent inconvenience to passengers. Medical officers should also be ready with the emergency drugs, he said.
Helplines set up
Meanwhile, Deputy Collector-ranked officials have been appointed as Officers on Special Duty at the vulnerable mandals. They will take stock of the situation on the ground in regular interval and alert the Collectorate about the emergency situation.
In case of exigency situations, people can dial the helpline numbers 9398567858 (Visakhapatnam Rural) and 9492000367 (Visakhapatnam Urban).
Joint Collector G. Srijana, City Police Commissioner Mahesh Chandra Laddha and Rural SP Attada Babuji were present in the meeting.
