New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed preparations for Cyclone Yaas with the Chief Ministers of Odisha, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh and the Lt. Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands on Monday.
The review through video conferencing came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a similar high-level meeting on Sunday.
The home minister specifically asked the states and UT administration to make adequate power backup arrangements in all COVID-19 hospitals, labs, vaccine cold chains and other medical facilities.
Notably, Odisha Energy Minister Dibya Shankar Mishra on Sunday said that standby arrangements have been made to ensure uninterrupted power supply to COVID hospitals during and after Cuclone Yaas.
Also Read: Cyclone Yaas: Odisha Targets Uninterrupted Power Supply To COVID Hospitals
Shah also reviewed the impact of the approaching cyclone on the oxygen generation plants in West Bengal, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. He asked the state governments to ensure safety of the oxygen generation plants.
Shah also stressed on the ensuring the safety of power and telecommunication services and their timely restoration.
He reviewed the preparedness of the states and UT concerned in bringing back all fishermen to shore and the timely evacuation of people from low-lying and vulnerable areas.
The home minister also assured the states and UT concerned of all cooperation of the Central government and its agencies.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik thanked Shah for convening the meeting and for extending assistance to the state government in its preparedness efforts.
Naveen said Odisha Government has taken all necessary steps to handle and manage the cyclone.
The meeting was also attended by Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai; Cabinet Secretary, Secretaries of the Ministries of Home Affairs, Health & Family Welfare, Power, Telecommunications, Road Transport & Highways, Port Shipping & Waterways, Petroleum & Natural Gas, Members of NDMA, CISC, Integrated Defence Staff, Directors General of IMD, Coast Guard and NDRF. Chief Secretaries and other senior officers of the concerned States and UT also attended.