CM directs officials to take all precautionary measures to face 'Phethai' Cyclone threat

Amaravati, Dec 16 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu directed the officials to take all precautionary measures to face the 'Phethai' Cyclone threat, keeping in view the past experiences during Titli cyclone.

The Chief Minister conducted a teleconference with officials on the precautionary measures being taken to face the 'Phethai Cyclone', which is likely to cross the coast between Kakinada and Machilipatnam on Monday.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Naidu said Phethai is third cyclone this year to hit the state.

He said property loss was more during the Titli cyclone, which uprooted thousands of trees and electric poles. The state government had to struggle hard to restore power supply by erecting new power poles in the affected areas.

The Chief Minister directed the officials to make arrangements in advance to restore power supply and transport facilities. Officials should keep ready power saw machines to restore road connectivity by removing the uprooted trees, he said.

The Chief Minister said the Revenue, Electricity, Panchayat Raj and R&B departments should work in coordination to restore normalcy in cyclone affected regions. He said the NDRF teams should be deployed in the cyclone prone regions in advance to take up relief measures immediately.

Officials should concentrate on supply of drinking water and food in cyclone affected regions, he added.

He said officials should alert people in cyclone prone areas and procure rice, dal, oil, potatoes and onion for supplying during cyclone. Mr Naidu saaid farmers should protect their paddy by harvesting in advance. Officials should extend assistance to farmers in protecting the paddy from rain.

The Chief Minister said paddy purchasing centres should function 24 hours to help the farmers in the hour of crisis.