The Prime Minister's Office has distributed work among the ministries. After a meeting with Modi, the Cabinet secretary has been asked to be on their toes to help the state governments and the Central government to ensure better coordination.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has roped in almost a dozen ministries to get ready to deal with Cyclone 'FANI'. Modi after two meetings has given tasks to the ministries as per their work allocation. So far, only one death has been reported, and the government is claiming that it is fully prepared. The Prime Minister's Office has distributed work among the ministries. After a meeting with Modi, the Cabinet secretary has been asked to be on their toes to help the state governments and the Central government to ensure better coordination.
Indian Coast Guard and the Navy have deployed ships and helicopters for relief and rescue operations. Army and Air Force units in the three States have also been put on standby. The ministry has also asked the Navy and Coast Guard to mobilise more staff and deploy them to the nearest safe destination so that help can be provided as soon as possible.
MHA is working as a nodal agency between State Governments and the Central Agencies concerned. MHA officials are in touch with chief Secretaries/Principal Secretaries of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal. Senior Officers from the Ministries of Home Affairs are also coordinating with Shipping, Civil Aviation, Railways, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Power, Telecommunications, Defence, Drinking Water and Sanitation, Food Processing, Health and other departments.
Civil Aviation Ministry has been asked to keep an eye on the movement and position of the cyclone. The ministry has also been asked to help guide forces during air rescue operations. Operations from Kolkata airport have been suspended and will be resumed as soon as the conditions improve.
The power ministry has been asked to make arrangements to restore power supply in affected areas with the least downtime. A team of senior officers have been asked to check calls related to power issues especially during the restoration process post Cyclone.
PMO has asked Drinking Water and Sanitation Ministry to make arrangements to supply additional water to the affected areas. The ministry has been asked to keep the Railway ministry in the loop for water supply. The department has also sent a team to the three states to maintain water supply adequate.
PMO has asked Health ministry to mobilise emergency medical teams and has asked the ministry to coordinate with Red Cross to supply medicines. Doctors have been positioned at different states and hospitals and have been asked to keep beds and equipment ready which may be required while treating affected people. Medicines which may be in high demand have already been dispatched to the affected states.
Dept of Telecommunication has issued orders to all operators to allow free SMS for cyclone-related messages and to allow interoperability of mobile networks. The ministry's important task would be to restore communication services post-cyclone. The ministry has instructed local administration to restore all services which were halted after AIIMS Bhubhneshwar was damaged due to the cyclone.
Petroleum Ministry has been asked to ensure availability of sufficient stocks of petroleum and oil in the affected areas. Also, to restore petrol pumps if there are some damages so that local transportation can be restored immediately.
The ministry has been asked to keep food supply and packets ready so that food can be supplied immediately. The ministry has sent multiple consignments to the affected areas, and with the help of local states, sufficient food material has been stocked up.
Cabinet Secretary is overlooking the work of central ministries. He has directed for establishment of a central toll-free helpline for the general public. He has also asked the central Ministries to set up control rooms to coordinate rescue and relief operations. For any help, anyone can call on the helpline 1938 anytime.
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