Unlike in 2016, this time around, government departments have proactively made arrangements with the lessons learned from Vardah and the even more devastating cyclone ‘Gaja’ that devastated the interior districts in 2018.
The Tamil Nadu Disaster Response Force (TNDRF) has trained law enforcement personnel and home guard personnel in the state and 60 armed reserve police officers are trained to handle rescue devices and operations measures. rescue in each district.
These trained personnel will be deployed to the state’s coastal districts, said AK Viswanathan, ADGP, who heads TNDRF. Fire and rescue service personnel are on standby in vulnerable areas and will assist the NDRF and TNDRF.
Greater Chennai Corporation has instructed its zone officials to keep at least five aid centers ready by Monday night in each zone. There are 15 zones in the city.
There are a total of 170 relief centers and about 75 will be ready for occupancy on Tuesday, said Deputy Commissioner for Works (in charge) Meghanatha Reddy.
“We want to avoid any electrocution and make sure there are no falling trees. We are closely monitoring the cyclone, ”said Reddy.
Apart from this, the civic body has kept personnel and machinery ready in all district offices. The civic body has been coordinating with the Tangedco to avoid accidents. The emergency numbers have been distributed through social media.
“Now we have a great tool in hand. We hope that the public will follow all instructions given by us through social media and other means, ”said Reddy.
The Public Works Department (PWD) has stocked sandbags and casuarina poles in all districts. In Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Chengalpet districts, the PWD has 30 pens where materials have been kept ready. Apart from this, they have monitoring stations at every reservoir, large tanks and lakes throughout the state, an official said.
Electricity Minister P Thangamani met with Tangedco officials on Monday to review the current arrangements. A senior official from Tangedco’s distribution wing said power supply will be cut off in the event of heavy rains and will be restored only after an assessment.
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