Admin braces for Ockhi storm

Gujarat government reviewed pre-calamity preparations on Monday in view of the onset of Ockhi storm, which could reach state's coast at the midnight of December 5. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and chief secretary Dr JN Singh convened two different meetings in a day at Gandhinagar and ordered the concerned authorities to stay alert taking serious view of the possible natural calamity.

The storm had settled at 870 km in South-South West direction at Monday afternoon and is proceeding towards Gujarat. However, the intensity of the same is gradually decreasing, chief secretary Singh said.

"The winds can blow at the speed of 50 to 60 km per hour and heavy rain in parts of Saurashtra and South Gujarat are likely due to deep depression. When the Ockhi would reach at Gujarat coast, its intensity is likely to be weaker, but the Gujarat government is fully prepared to combat with the situation. We have alerted all the district administrations of coastal area in state. Control rooms have been made active round the clock at every taluka and district headquarters of coastal zone," he said.

"Our administration has been on high alert since last 24 hours and we are continuously keeping watch over the situation. We request the fishermen to not to go for fishing and other people to not to go close to seashores in state. Moreover, the officials of fisheries department also have been directed to stay put at headquarters," added Singh.

The Chief Minister Vijar Rupani, amidst the busy schedule of poll rallies, reached Gandhinagar and reviewed the condition through meeting with the senior officials of the state government.

Rupani said, "As many as 50 boats of fishermen from Kerala have drifted towards the shores of Gujarat due to heavy blow of winds and all have been provided shelter in Veraval. The state administration is fully prepared to combat with the situation and sufficient precautionary measures have been taken."

Revenue secretary Pankaj Kumar said, "The Ockhi may bring heavy rains in parts of Valsad, Surat, Navsari, Dangs, Bharuch, Tapi in South Gujarat, Amreli, Gir Somnath and Bhavnagar districts in Saurashtra region and Diu-Daman and Dadra Nagar Haveli union territories. One NDRF team each has been deputed in Surat and Navsari districts while two teams have been deputed in Rajkot."

DANGER ALERT

• “Our administration has been on high alert since last 24 hours and we are continuously keeping watch over the situation. We request the fishermen to not to go for fishing and other people to not to go close to seashores in state,” chief secretary Dr JN Singh said.