Cyclone weakens, but corporation ready

The meeting, chaired by Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MAWS) Secretary K Phanindra Reddy and Corporation Commissioner D Karthikeyan at Ripon Building, was attended by IAS officers assigned to oversee the monsoon preparedness in each of the 15 zones, Regional Deputy Commissioners and heads of all departments. The arrangement to tackle rain-related complaints in each zone was reviewed. K Phanindra Reddy said that the officials have been coordinating with the resident welfare associations in all the zones, addressing issues as they arise. “In additions, the officials are also coordinating with other departments to solve problems in each zone. Ever since the announcement of Cyclone Nada, necessary precautions have been taken to avoid any kind of damage,” said the official. At 16 subways maintained by the Corporation, 38 motor pumps have been kept ready in case of severe flooding. This year, the pumps are thrice as strong as the ones usually used. 

A total of 10 areas - Tiruvotriyur, Manali, Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar, Ambattur, Anna Nagar, Kodambakkam, Alandur, Adyar, Perungudi and Sholinganallur - have been identified as flood prone and boats from the Fisheries Department are on standby. Traffic arrangements have been made, in collaboration with the city traffic police to ease bottlenecks during the monsoon. As many as 26 distribution boxes and transformers will be moved to elevated areas, to ensure safety. 

Conservancy workers have been kept on standby with solid waste disposal and prevention of garbage pileup as priorities. There is a constant monitoring of storm water drains and an effort to ensure free flow in flood channels with the help of the Public Works Department (PWD). “Over the last six months, Rs 18 crore has been spent on desilting of storm water drains, to prevent flooding during the monsoons,” said Reddy. Medical teams and relief camps have been organised. 3,337 malaria workers have been deployed and 420 pressure sprayers, 245 handheld sprayers and 45 mobile fumigators will be used to prevent the outbreak of diseases like malaria and dengue. 

As many as 38 NDRF personnel from Arakkonam have been deployed near Basin Bridge with four inflatable boats. “A total of 174 relief centres and four community kitchens have been provided, which can be used to house those living in the banks of Cooum and Adyar rivers. People should not allow water stagnation which will lead to breeding of mosquitoes,” added Reddy. The public has been advised not to stray into waterways or beaches and prevent spreading rumours. All 16 subways are functioning normally. Nine complaints of fallen trees were received and cleared. Out of 96 complaints received by the Corporation, 38 have been actioned immediately.

Two thatched houses collapsed and a boat was dragged away into the sea due to high tides at Bommayarpalayam in Villippuram district on Thursday.

According to fishermen sources, the sea remained rough due to cyclone Nada and the water intruded into the Bommayarpalaym village in which the thatched houses of  Sekhar and  Rajasellakkannu collapsed. The boat owned by Harikrishnan was dragged away into the sea. All efforts made by fishermen in the area to retrieve it proved futile. Since sea erosion is taking place, the electricity authorities have disconnected power supply in the village as a safety measure. Meanwhile, Puducherry Revenue Minister M O H F Shajahan on Thursday inspected the arrangements made by the administration in the wake of the cyclone Nada in  Bay which was now weakened into deep depression. The Minister convened a meeting of  senior officials and reviewed the arrangements, in which Development Commissioner  Narendra Kumar, Sundaravadivalu (District Collector in-charge), SSP Ghawas among others participated. Later, Shajahan told newspersons that all arrangements were made to meet any eventuality arising out of the cyclone. Six official teams were constituted and the needy could contact  control rooms  on  toll free numbers 1077  and 1070. A medical team is also ready to prevent  spreading of diseases, he added. Two National Disaster Rescue teams consisting of 78 members arrived here and one was sent to Karaikal. The teams are fully equipped to face any situation, he said. As many as 179 places including  schools and community centers  were arranged to accommodate  the affected and arrangements were made to provide them food packets.

With cyclone ‘Nada’ set to cross the coast early tomorrow morning, the Indian Navy was on alert to assist  the Tamil Nadu government  in rescue and relief works, with  two naval ships kept on standby.

A defence statement here today said as the cyclone Nada was  poised to strike the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coast, the  Eastern Naval Command (ENC) has assumed high degree of readiness to render necessary humanitarian assistance. Two Indian Naval ships Shakti and Satpura were standing by  to proceed to the most affected areas to undertake Humanitarian  Aid Distress Relief (HADR), evacuation, logistic support,  including providing medical aid. These ships were equipped with additional divers, doctors,  inflatable rubber boats, integral helicopters and relief materials  that included food, tentage, clothes, medicines, blankets in  sufficient quantities that would sustain over 5,000 personnel.  “Additionally INS Ranjit, presently deployed in the Bay of  Bengal, has been positioned off Tamil Nadu and Puducherry  coasts and will be the first responder for HADR operation, if  required’’, the statement said. Naval aircraft were also kept as stand by at the Naval Air  Stations Rajali and Dega to undertake reconnaissance, rescue,  casualty evacuation and air drop of relief materials to the  stranded.