New Delhi, Dec 1 (UNI) In view of the deep depression emerging along the Southern coast of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba on Tuesday asked the state governments of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, the administration of Lakshadweep and the Central Ministries to ensure that minimum damage is caused and necessary preparations were made to restore essential services at the earliest.
Chairing the meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) here through video-conferencing with the Chief Secretaries of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Advisor Lakshadweep and Secretaries of different Ministries, Mr Gauba reviewed the preparation of the stakeholders, in view of the deep depression, which was likely to turn into a severe cyclone.
The DG of India Meteorological Department said that winds of different speed during the deep depression were likely to affect the Southern coast of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Lakshadweep, with heavy to very heavy rainfall likely between December 2 and 4.
While mentioning that as of now, it was likely to cause damage to crops and some essential services, the DG further said that there should be complete suspension of fishing activities till December 4.
The Chief Secretaries of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, apart from Advisor of Lakshadweep, briefed the NCMC about their preparedness and arrangements by the District Disaster Management Committees in the concerned districts, including issuing warning to the fishermen and deployment of rescue teams.
During the meeting, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) DG informed the members that necessary teams have been positioned in these areas and the remaining teams have been kept on stand-by across Tamil Nadu.
The Secretaries from the Ministries of Civil Aviation, Telecommunication, Power, Home, NDMA and the representative of Ministry of Defence also briefed the NCMC about their preparedness.
A depression has formed over the southeast Bay of Bengal, which was very likely to intensify further into a ‘deep depression’ during the next 12 hours. This will bring widespread rainfall over Tamil Nadu, Kerala and south coastal Andhra Pradesh from December 1.
