With Cyclone Tauktae heading northwards towards Gujarat, the state government has evacuated 1.5 lakh people from low-lying coastal areas in the state. The government has deployed 54 teams of NDRF and SDRF.
Besides, the government has also suspended vaccination program on May 17 and 18 in the wake of the cyclonic storm.
The Gujarat Energy Minister Saurabh Patel today said that special arrangements have been made in COVID hospitals in all 12 districts of Saurashtra and over 2,000 personnel of Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation have been deployed.
"We are fully prepared. In all 12 districts of Saurashtra which are likely to be affected by cyclone Tauktae, special arrangements have been made in COVID hospitals -- from materials to manpower," Patel told ANI.
The state energy minister also informed that an arrangement for a dual power supply has also been made.
"More than 2,000 personnel of Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation have been deployed and material availability at the shortest notice to the nearest point has also been arranged," he said. "Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Ltd has fully prepared itself to restore electricity at the earliest if cyclone Tauktae causes any damage," he further said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday chaired a review meeting with the Chief Ministers of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Administrator of Daman and Diu and Dadra Nagar Haveli to assess the preparedness of States and Central ministries to deal with the situation arising out of the cyclone.
Earlier in the day, the Director-General of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed that the cyclone is expected to reach the Gujarat Coast in the morning of May 18 (Tuesday) with wind speeds ranging from 150 to 160 km/hour, accompanied by squally winds, heavy rainfall and storm surge in the coastal districts of the state.
The incoming cyclone has intensified into a "very severe cyclonic storm" over the east-central Arabian Sea and is very likely to intensify further during the next 12 hours, said the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday morning.
(With agency inputs)
