Modi chairs meeting on cyclone Jawad

Officials directed to ensure safe evacuation of people

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday reviewed the preparedness to deal with the situation arising out of the likely formation of Cyclone Jawad that is expected to hit the North Andhra Pradesh-Odisha coast and directed the officials to take every possible measure to ensure that people are safely evacuated.

The IMD has stated that a low-pressure region in Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify into Cyclone Jawad, which is likely to reach the coast of North Andhra PradeshOdisha around the morning of December 4, with wind speed ranging up to 100 kilometres per hour.

Modi chaired a high-level meeting to review the preparedness of the states, central ministries and agencies concerned to deal with the situation arising out of the likely formation of Cyclone Jawad, the PMO said in a statement.

He directed the officials to take every possible measure to ensure that people are safely evacuated and the maintenance of all essential services such as power, telecommunications, health, drinking water etc., and that they are restored immediately in the event of any disruption, the PMO said.

Modi asked them to ensure adequate storage of medicines and supplies and to plan for unhindered movement. He also directed for 24x7 functioning of control rooms. The cyclone is likely to cause heavy rainfall in the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal.