NE NEWS SERVICE
GANDHINAGAR, JUNE 2
Cyclonic storm ”Nisarg” is likely to hit the state on or after June 3 with winds expected to gush up to 100-110 km per hour.
The Gujarat Relief Commissioner said on Tuesday that the state is ready to tackle the cyclone with zero casualty aim. The administration has initiated action for shifting around 80,000 people to safer places in southern Gujarat.
Speaking to the media, Harshad Patel, Gujarati Relief Commissioner, said, “Nisarg is likely to hit northern Maharashtra and southern Gujarat after June 3. Stormy winds with speed up to 100-110 km/ph are expected. The depression is 670 km away from Surat. The state administration has prepared shelters for the people living in the coastal areas of Surat, Navsari, Valsad and Bharuch.”
“Approximately 68,971 people living in the low-lying areas of these four districts will be evacuated. Till now, 1,727 people have been shifted. Thirteen National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and six State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams have been deployed. Within the coming 24 hours, the depression is expected to intensify into a cyclonic form,” added Patel.
“Following this meteorological development, many districts in Gujarat have witnessed rainfall in the past 24 hours,” Patel added.
According to the latest IMD bulletin, it is predicted that the cyclone might not make a landfall in the state, but it is likely to have an impact in certain parts of Saurashtra and south Gujarat.
According to sources, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a telephonic conversation with Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani regarding the state’s preparedness for the cyclonic storm, and expressed his satisfaction regarding the steps been taken by the state government. The PM also assured all possible help from the Central government.
Power discoms ready to handle any emergency situation: Energy Minister Saurabhbhai Patel
The state government’s power distribution companies have made all preparations in a view to combating Nisarg hurricane that is likely to hit the coast of Gujarat on June 4. Energy Minister Saurabhbhai Patel assured that all the power distribution companies of the state would be equipped for the required power supply in order to maintain the uninterrupted supply of electricity in the entire state keeping in view the ‘red signal’ given on the coast of the state.
In this situation, the 24-hour uninterrupted power supply should be available every day and especially for hospitals to avoid any inconvenience in the current situation of the Covid 19 outbreak.
Patel said the control room has already been started by all the subsidiaries of GUVNL round the clock. Nodal Officers have been appointed by all these subsidiaries to assist in immediate redressal of any ground-level power outage. All these nodal officers have been directed and given the right to give top priority to every Covid-19 hospital in the state to supply power on a priority basis. Give priority in power supply to all feeder power supplies at key locations, including hospitals, primary health centres, community health centres, waterworks, government offices, telecom offices and also to restore power supply on immediate basis in case of any interruption. Adequate stock of equipment including transformers, conductors, cables, insulators is required in sensitive areas where hurricanes are most likely to be affected. PSC poles are also kept in sufficient numbers to meet any type of emergency where there is a possibility of a greater impact of the hurricane. Teams of 683 contractors with manpower of about 3,763 have been deployed for the task of repairing any electric pole broken, erecting or requiring an electric network.
