Telecom Secretary Anshu Prakash (left) and SKG Rahate, Secretary, Ministry of Power (right)
New Delhi [India], May 19 (ANI): The Department of Telecommunications and the Ministry of Power are ready with their plan to deal with the situation arising out of cyclone Amphan. Addressing a press conference here, Telecom Secretary Anshu Prakash said that disaster preparedness plan has been operationalised after discussion with all telecom operators of affected districts in both states. “Telecom cables, antennas and towers get damaged during a cyclone as strong as this.
Telecom service providers have been asked to arrange a sufficient number of generator sets with enough diesel and station them in all districts so that if there is any power disruption, then the towers can be restarted with the help of these gen-sets,” he said.
“Spare parts, optical fibre cables will be kept in adequate quantity, fault repair teams to do prompt repair,” he said Prakash informed that arrangements have been made to keep citizens in affected districts alerted regarding evacuation, through free SMS alerts in the local language, frequency and modality of messaging has been left to the states.
The telecom secretary said that intra-circle roaming will be operational after the passing of the cyclone. “After the passing of cyclone Amphan, intra-circle roaming will be operational, i.e., subscribers will be able to latch on to the network of whichever telecom operator is available, if services of the operator whose services they are using get disrupted,” Prakash said.
“Special focus will be laid on base station controllers and mobile switching centres since damage to these will affect many telecom towers. Broadband connections to authorities will be restored on priority, to facilitate the functioning of relief teams,” he said. Prakash said that the control room in the Department of Telecommunications will be operational 24×7 from tomorrow.
“A senior officer will coordinate with all telecom operators and states, similar arrangement for coordination with infra providers too, hope to restore normalcy soon,” he said. SKG Rahate, Secretary, Ministry of Power said that emergency restoration system has been set up to handle power disruptions in both Odisha and West Bengal.
“24×7 control room operational is in Kolkata, Bhubaneshwar and Power Grid HQ… Transmission lines and sub-stations situated in high impact areas of Amphan have been identified and placed on high alert. Required restoration system has been put in place at identified locations. Required assistance will be given to state power utilities,” he said.
According to the Ministry of Earth Science, Cyclone Amphan is very likely to move north-northeastwards across the northwest Bay of Bengal and cross West Bengal – Bangladesh coasts between Digha (West Bengal ) and Hatiya Islands (Bangladesh) close to Sundarbans during the afternoon to evening hours of May 20 with maximum sustained wind speed of 155-165 kmph gusting to 185 kmph.
Om Birla speaks to MPs regarding cyclone Amphan
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday spoke to Members of Parliament of areas that could be affected by Cyclone Amphan. “He urged them to be in touch with the people of their areas proactively and guide them about the arrangements being made by the agencies concerned,” a Lok Sabha press release said.
The Speaker said in a tweet that he urged MPS to monitor relief measures so that these reach in a timely manner to those in need. “Spoke on phone to MPs of affected areas regarding Cyclone Amphan in the Bay of Bengal. Urged them to sensitize people in the affected areas. Also, impressed upon them to monitor relief and rescue measures so that they timely reach to those affected,”
Om Birla tweeted on Tuesday. Cyclone Amphan will cross West Bengal and Bangladesh coasts by Wednesday night with a very devastating wind speed which could cause extensive damage to structures, India Meteorological Department (IMD) chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said today.
“Amphan is the most intense cyclone – the second super cyclone – which has been formed in the Bay of Bengal after 1999. We are utilizing all tools and technologies to monitor it. The current wind speed of Amphan is around 200 – 240 kmph, it is moving north-northwest direction at 15 kmph, but we expect this speed to increase,” Mohapatra said in a press briefing here.
Cyclone Amphan: Around 3 lakh people have been evacuated, kept in relief camps till now, says Mamata
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said that around 3 lakh people have been evacuated and kept in relief camps till now in wake of cyclone Amphan. “The Amphan cyclone is severe than Aila. I appeal to all of you, do not step out from your home after 12 pm.
We are taking precautions in Sagar Mousumi island, Namkhana, and Gosaba. South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas and Midnapore will be more affected. Around 3 lakh people have been evacuated and kept in relief camps till now,” CM Banerjee said during a video conference here “We are ready in all the way. Taskforce, DM, SPs are all working.
NDRF, SDRF are working to combat this cyclone. I request people if you are brought to relief camp please be there till the situation becomes normal,” she added. CM Banerjee further said that she talked to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and assured him to work together.
“Union Home Minister Amit Shah called me and I told him that earlier we faced cyclone bulbul so we will work together this time to combat cyclone Amphan. Earlier, we had asked to increased boggie so that more than 3 lakhs people can come, but I am not allowing trains for tomorrow and day after due to the cyclone,” she said. “Control room are opened.
Anyone in need can contact on toll-free number 1070 and 22143526 / 22141995. People will be made aware of the cyclone through mic near shelter homes,” she added. Earlier today, the India Meteorological Department (IMD ) had issued a warning regarding Cyclone Amphan and said that it is likely to move towards West Bengal as an extremely severe cyclonic storm tomorrow.
The super cyclone Amphan is being continuously tracked by the Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) at Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, IMDÂ said. It has also warned fishermen not to venture into the sea till May 21. CM Mamata Banerjee further added that she will attend the interim Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s meeting on May 22.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi is expected to chair a meeting of opposition leaders to discuss the prevailing situation in the country due to COVID-19.
Srikakulam district administration alerts coastal areas in wake of cyclone Amphan
Srikakulam district administration on Tuesday alerted the coastal areas in the district in the wake of cyclone Amphan. The sea wave at Sompeta, Baruva and other coastal areas came almost 50 ft forward. The intensity of tides is also increasing. District administration has already warned fishermen not to venture into the sea.
Srikakulam District Collector J Nivas had on Monday said that the administration is “fully geared up” to face Cyclone Amphan . “The India Meteorological Department (IMD ) has warned that cyclone Amphan in the Bay of Bengal is developing as a very severe cyclonic storm.
It may rain heavily in the district till May 20 and the administration is fully geared up to face it,” said the Collector. The India Meteorological Department (IMDÂ ) has issued a warning regarding cyclone Amphan and said that it is likely to move towards West Bengal as an extremely severe cyclonic storm tomorrow.
BJP national president JP Nadda during video-conferencing with party officials (Photo/ANI)
Nadda interacts with party office-bearers from four states over cyclone Amphan
BJPnational president JP Nadda on Tuesday held a meeting with senior party office-bearers from Odisha, West Bengal , Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu via video conferencing regarding cyclone Amphan. He held a meeting with party’s state presidents, state general secretaries and state general secretaries (organisation) of the four states regarding the super cyclone. He had said in a tweet earlier that a clear directive has been given to BJP workers to cooperate with their state administrations in relief operations and evacuation process of people.
“Super Cyclone Amphan is heading towards coastal region of Orissa, West Bengal , partially touching Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. A clear directive given to BJP workers to cooperate with their administrations in relief operations and evacuation process of people,” he said.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning regarding cyclone Amphan and said that it is likely to move towards West Bengal as an extremely severe cyclonic storm tomorrow.(ANI)Â
