Sir — The new-found seriousness and sensitivity, and the enthusiasm and preparedness of various units in foiling the effects of Phailin, are laudable. The recent disaster of an unimaginable magnitude in Uttarakhand had propelled the National Disaster Response Force to expect the worst.
The Uttarakhand tragedy came without calling, which caught the disaster management group on the wrong foot, but it served notice to the disaster management system in India to always be on its toes.
Importantly, this time, anticipation overtook anxiety, and public unity overrode political consideration, much to the relief of the people of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. In such cyclone- threatened States, dousing the fire of fear among the people is vital, and our Government teams performed well. The meteorological department was able to track the cyclone’s course with accuracy, thus giving time to the authorities to brace themselves for the event. The National Disaster Management Authority and the Armed Forces, besides the NDRF and various Government agencies, did a great job.