Raipur: The Chhattisgarh government has placed all district collectors on high alert following warnings of Cyclone Arnab, which is expected to originate in the Bay of Bengal. District administrations have been directed to maintain special vigilance from October 27 to 29.
Additional Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Pingua chaired a high-level review meeting through video conference at the Mahanadi Bhawan Secretariat to assess the state’s preparedness. District collectors and senior officials from key departments attended the meeting.
Pingua instructed officials to take weather warnings seriously and ensure all necessary preparations to achieve zero loss of life. He specifically directed the districts of Bijapur, Sukma, Dantewada, Bastar and Narayanpur in South Bastar to exercise extreme caution, as high-velocity winds are likely in the region.
The administration has directed that relief camps remain operational 24 hours a day with all essential facilities. The Health Department has been instructed to ensure uninterrupted medical services and prepare lists of pregnant women so they can be evacuated safely, if required.
The concerned departments have also been directed to issue detailed agricultural advisories to help farmers minimise damage to standing crops and livestock. Local authorities will assess ground conditions and implement necessary safety measures for schoolchildren and Anganwadi children. Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) remain deployed at strategic locations.
Revenue and Disaster Management Secretary Shammi Abidi instructed district administrations to assess the potential risks to kutcha houses and ensure that residents of vulnerable areas are relocated to safer locations in time.
The Electricity Department has been asked to keep repair teams on standby to respond promptly to fallen power poles and electricity disruptions. Meanwhile, telecom operators have been directed to arrange backup systems to prevent communication outages.
Municipal bodies and road agencies have been instructed to remove fallen trees immediately to ensure smooth traffic movement. Authorities have also been asked to inspect hoardings and unsafe structures in urban areas and take preventive measures to avert accidents.
Health and Family Welfare Secretary Amit Kataria, along with senior officials from the Revenue, Disaster Management and Home departments, as well as representatives of the NDRF and SDRF, attended the review meeting.
