Cab Secy reviews preparedness for cyclone 'Hudhud'

With 'Hudhud' moving closer to the coast of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth today reviewed the preparedness for the cyclone which is likely to hit the two states on Sunday.Seth, who heads the National Crisis Management Committee, has asked the representatives of all central ministries, departments and Chief Secretaries of the state governments concerned to take necessary steps for preparedness to meet any eventuality from the cyclone, a release issued by the Home Ministry said.Meanwhile, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has placed its five battalions (about 5,000 personnel) situated at Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal and Bihar on high alert.These NDRF battalions comprise 51 teams. In Andhra Pradesh, six rescue and relief teams have already been deployed at Srikakulam, Vijay Nagaram, Visakhapattam and East Godavari, it said. In Odisha, nine NDRF teams are being considered for deployment in districts Gajpatti, Ganjam, Khurda, Cuttak, Puri and Balasore, the Ministry said.Four teams each from NDRF Patna, Kolkata and Chennai battalions are moving towards Odisha and AP. "27 teams are being deployed in vulnerable areas as a proactive measure to mitigate the situation during cyclonic storm," the release said.A total 162 boats and 54 deep diving sets with other flood rescue equipment are being sent to meet any challenges which may arise due to cyclonic storm 'Hudhud', it said.