Chennai: With the Met officials predicting heavy rainfall accompanied by gales, as the cyclone Gaja crosses Tamil Nadu coast, the state government put its machinery on high alert and stationed about 30,500 rescue personnel on standby.
Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Monday chaired a high- level meeting at the secretariat here, with ministers and senior officials and reviewed the preparedness in the wake of the cyclonic storm. Revenue minister R.B. Udayakumar said 30,500 rescue personnel have been drafted and put on standby while arrangements have been made for food and shelter at relief centres to accommodate those living in the low lying areas.
A total of 4,399 locations across Tamil Naduhave been identified as vulnerable and teams have been deployed for rescue. Speaking to reporters Udayakumar said teams from the National and State Disaster Response Forces are ready to be deployed. The government has stepped up vigil in the coastal districts and the official machinery’s state of preparedness is being reviewed. High alert has been sounded for Cuddalore and Nagapattinam as they are vulnerable coastal districts.
