New Delhi: As Cyclone Arnab intensified over the Bay of Bengal and moved towards the Andhra Pradesh coast, the Central government on Monday sounded an alert in four states and the Union Territory of Puducherry.
Besides Andhra and Odisha, which are expected to face the brunt of the severe cyclonic storm, the other states to have stepped up preparedness are Telangana and Chhattisgarh.
Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan chaired a meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) to assess preparedness and coordinate relief measures.
Authorities in eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar Bengal and Jharkhand have also been advised to remain vigilant in view of heavy rainfall forecast.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams have been deployed, and additional personnel kept on standby. Additionally, even the Army, Navy, Air Force and Indian Coast Guard have kept their rescue and relief teams ready.
Somanathan directed officials to prioritise safety of residents, minimise damage to property and ensure uninterrupted essential services. In case of disruptions, the Cabinet Secretary said there must be swift restoration.
Fishermen have been warned not to venture into the sea between October 26 and 29.
The Ministry of Home Affairs, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and IMD are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with all the concerned states.
Also Read: Cyclone Arnab To Become Very Severe By Tomorrow; South Odisha To Face Extremely Heavy Rain
