Gandhinagar:  Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, convened a meeting with the Chief Secretary and senior officials at the State Emergency Operation Center to receive updates on the administrative measures taken against the potential cyclone ‘Biparjoy’ in Gujarat.

The Relief Commissioner, Alok Pandey, reported during the review meeting that the state government is closely monitoring the situation to prevent any loss of life resulting from the approaching storm. The government has already relocated over 47,000 people to safe locations in 8 districts, with a particular focus on evacuation. The evacuation process is still ongoing and is expected to be 100 percent complete by Wednesday evening.

Further details were provided, indicating that 4,462 individuals in Junagadh district, 17,739 in Kutch, 8,542 in Jamnagar, 3,469 in Porbandar, 4,863 in Devbhoomi Dwarka, 1,605 in Gir Somnath, 1,936 in Morbi, and 4,497 in Rajkot have been shifted to secure places, totaling 47,113 people.

Out of the total target of the evacuation of 55,000 persons, 46,000 around are shifted to safer places so far. Migration as per the target in Kutch shall complete by evening today. Rainfall has started in districts. For communication, Sat phones, Ham radios, and intra-circle… pic.twitter.com/PjS9YVXthy

— DeshGujarat (@DeshGujarat) June 14, 2023

The Relief Commissioner also mentioned that 18 teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and 12 teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed in the districts expected to be affected by the storm. The NDRF has deployed 6 teams in Kutch, 3 in Devbhoomi Dwarka, 2 in Rajkot, 2 in Jamnagar, and one each in Junagadh, Porbandar, Gir Somnath, Morbi, and Valsad. The SDRF has two teams each in Kutch, Jamnagar, and Devbhoomi Dwarka, and one team each in Junagadh, Porbandar, Gir Somnath, Morbi, Patan, and Banaskantha. Additionally, a reserve team has been stationed in Surat.

He further mentioned that more than four thousand hoardings have been taken down in these districts as a precautionary measure. Furthermore, 597 teams from the Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Limited (PGVCL) are prepared to restore power supply after the storm, along with an adequate quantity of wire-poles available at sub-stations. In addition, arrangements have been made to promptly restore power supply by mobilizing teams from other districts in the potentially affected areas.

Ms. Mohanty, the Regional Director of the Central Meteorological Department, provided information about the weather conditions, indicating a likelihood of rainfall in districts like Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, and Patan in North Gujarat on June 15th. In response, Chief Secretary Rajkumar issued instructions to the collector offices in the districts of North Gujarat to make necessary preparations.

Pandey mentioned that shelter homes have been set up in government schools and offices in coastal districts, where essential arrangements including accommodation, food, beverages, and medication have been made. Adequate medical staff and necessary supplies, including medicines, have been made available at nearby health centers, government hospitals, and private hospitals. Generator sets and other essential health services are also prepared and on standby.

Satellite phones and ham radio services have been made available as part of a contingency plan to address potential communication disruptions caused by heavy rains or storms. Mobile service operators have also been instructed to keep alternative towers operational as a precautionary measure. Mr. Pandey further stated that the state government remains in constant communication to provide immediate assistance to the concerned district administrations for rescue operations.

During this review meeting, senior principal secretaries, secretaries, and officials including additional chief secretaries from the revenue and health departments provided Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel with detailed reports on the progress made by their respective departments thus far. DeshGujarat