The India Meteorological Department has warned that Cyclone Nisarga is likely to cross Maharashtra and Gujarat Coast on Wednesday and is being cited as a “severe cyclonic storm.”
The worst-hit COVID-19 state Maharashtra prepares itself for another calamity. The Maharashtra government, as a part of its preparedness program, has deployed ten teams of National Disaster Response Force for rescue and relief operations along the coast. An alert has been issued for Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg. The Chief Minister’s office said that necessary precautions have been taken to minimize the spread of the coronavirus during relief and rescue operations.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has alerted its disaster management control room. The Shiv Sena leader Aditya Thackeray took to twitter and urged people to take precautions. He wrote,
“This morning, I had a detailed review of the preparations to handle the incoming cyclone Nisarga with the Municipal Commissioner of Mumbai Iqbal Singh Chahal ji and all the AMCs, DMCs and ACs for all wards. While we fight COVID-19, we are prepping ourselves to also deal with cyclones. We have to safeguard our citizens and the city at large. All the wards have begun the pre-cyclone preps.”
The Prime Minister also took stock of the situation and Tweeted,
“Took stock of the situation in the wake of Cyclone conditions in parts of India’s western coast. Praying for everyone’s well-being. I urge people to take all possible precautions and safety measures.”
Gujarat on High Alert
Meanwhile, the Gujarat government has started evacuating people from Valsad and Navsari district. Nearly 20,000 people have been evacuated from 47 villages. A total of 14 National Disaster Response Force have been deployed to handle the situation. The Valsad collector said,
“We have deployed our teams to shift nearly 10,000 people living in 35 coastal villages. We have already identified shelter homes and started the evacuation process.”
A total of seven districts in Gujarat and two in Saurashtra have been put on high alert. Fishermen have been asked by the authorities to avoid going to the sea. Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a video conference with the Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani addressing the preparations of the state.
Source: Scroll.in
