Army, Navy on standby; diving teams to be posted if required
Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Jitendra Singh on Saturday urged the people not to worry while describing the Cyclone Hudhud as ‘very severe’ but not Super Cyclone.
Singh said this after reviewing the preparedness for the cyclone here. He said the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) attached with the Ministry of Earth Sciences is doing minute to minute monitoring. The concerned departments are already geared up for any eventuality and the IMD officials, including its Director General, are maintaining a direct regular contact with Chief Secretaries of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.
He said the IMD’s prediction 5-6 days earlier gave enough time to the administration to shift out people of vulnerable areas and the NDRF to deploy as many as around 20 teams to undertake rescue and relief operations.
Dr Singh said Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam and East Godavari in Andhra Pradesh and two districts of Ganjam and Gajapti of Odisha would be worst affected.
He said Koraput, Malkajgiri, Rayagada and Kalahandi are some of the other districts of Odisha which would be affected.
The Cyclone Hudhud is expected to intensify and peak to around 185 kms by Saturday afternoon. He said over 24,000 people have been shifted out from Visakhapatnam district alone.
The Union Minister said the Andhra Pradesh and Odisha Governments have already kept army and navy on standby, and if required, diving teams with additional relief material would be coming into action at very short notice.