Chennai: Chief Minister M K Stalin called upon the people to not step out of their homes without any valid reason and refrain from setting out to watch the spectacle of the cyclone crossing the coast at any cost even as he reviewed the precautionary measures taken in the districts of Tiruvallur, Kanchipuram, Chengalpattu and Ranipet by talking to the Collectors on video call.
Visiting the State Emergency Operations Centre situated at Ezhilagam in Chennai on Saturday, Stalin sought details from the collectors of the districts that would face the wrath of Cyclone Fengal that was expected to pick up 70 km per hour to 90 km per hour speed before crossing the coast on the precautionary measures taken by them.
He enquired about the relief camps set up in the districts and if they had all facilities people, besides checking if necessary equipment for removal of stagnant water, clearing of fallen trees and repairing of damaged infrastructure were in place.
Medical facilities in the districts were also reviewed in the meeting with the Chief Minister enquiring if government hospitals were equipped to meet any emergency situation caused by the rains. Besides discussing with the Collectors about the five relief camps in the districts, Stalin also spoke of some of the people now staying the camps
He enquired with the people if the camps had all necessary facilities in place and they were satisfied with the arrangements made by the administration.
Stalin also ordered the dispatch of 18 teams of the disaster response forces to the rain affected districts – three each to Chennai and Chengalpattu and two each to Cuddalore, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai and Villpuram.
Officials to monitor the relief operation in the rain-hit districts have also been appointed to work in tandem with the district administration, an official press release said, adding that all Amma canteens in Chennai had been instructed to serve free food to the people all through the day.
He also urged the officials manning the emergency call centres to react immediately to distress calls, providing succor to the affected people and advised the common people to cooperate with the officials in implementing the disaster prevention measures taken by them.
