YS Jagan asks Collectors to be vigilant: Cyclone Michaung

AMARAVATI: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has called upon the district collectors to take all possible steps to safeguard the lives and property of people in view of the cyclonic storm Michaung looming over the State.

Speaking at a review meeting held at his camp office in Tadepalli here on Monday, YS Jagan said that the relief and rescue measures should be foolproof and all facilities including drinking water, food and necessary medicines should be provided in the relief camps. Besides restoring power lines and transportation facilities in affected areas, steps should be taken to ensure proper sanitation in and around the relief camps, he said and added that he should be updated periodically on the situation.

The district collectors informed the Chief Minister that the cyclonic storm alert had been issued by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) for eight districts–Tirupati, Nellore, Prakasam, Bapatla, Krishna, West Godavari, Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema, and Kakinada. “The cyclonic storm is expected to make landfall near Bapatla on Tuesday at around 12 pm. The wind speed is anticipated to reach severe cyclonic levels, with a maximum sustained speed of 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph during the forenoon of December 5,” the district collectors said.

The officials said that until December 7, 2023 the storm was expected to continue and later transform into a deep depression and return to normalcy. Temporary relief funds were allocated to district collectors, with Rs 1 crore for each collector and 2 crore for Tirupati, and additional funds would be provided if required on war-footing basis, the officials said and added that senior IAS officers would be deployed to districts with immediate effect to join relief efforts.

In return, the Chief Minister said that the primary focus should be kept by the officials on preventing loss of life for both humans and animals. Utmost importance should be given to safeguarding crops, especially during the Kharif harvest and paddy procurement. The officials informed YS Jagan that significant quantities of crops over 97,000 tons of paddy were collected on Sunday. While around 6.5 lakh tons were shifted to safe storage locations. Focus should be laid by the officials on moisture content/discontent of harvested crops, YS Jagan said and added that the official machinery should avail the services of village and ward secretariat staff and volunteers in relief and rescue operations.

The Chief Minister said that authorities should focus on prompt collection of harvested grain and utmost importance should be given to farmers, emphasising diligent paddy procurement. Evacuation processes began with 181 relief camps set up across the eight affected districts, the officials said. Informing the cyclone preparedness measures, the officials said that five NDRF and five SDRF teams were deployed in the affected districts. Special officers/officials overseeing facilities at relief camps would ensure supply of medical needs, food, and drinking water to the people, the officials added.

The Chief Minister also asked the officials to provide financial assistance of Rs 2,500 for each family and Rs 1,000 for individuals affected in the cyclonic storm Michaung. Apart from that, steps should be taken by the officials to provide 25 kg rice, pulses, palm oil, onions and potatoes to the cyclone victims. A financial assistance of Rs 10,000 should be provided to the most severely affected – thatched houses/huts, he said and emphasised on empathy from collectors and efficient use of the volunteer system.

YS Jagan asked the health department to arrange medical camps to prevent the spread of communicable diseases after the cyclonic storm receded in the State. Referring to the crop enumeration in the State, he said that the crop enumeration process should be completed in a transparent manner and added that he would personally visit the affected districts to verify the relief measures provided for the people.

Officials should also be ready to attend to emergency services like shifting pregnant women, lactating mothers and the aged to hospitals for necessary medical treatment, he said.