Cyclone Tauktae: Shah stresses on protection of COVID hospitals, oxygen plants

Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the preparedness for Cyclone Tauktae in Gujarat, Maharashtra and two Union territories on Sunday and “specifically” harassed that every one well being amenities, together with these for COVID-19 therapy, falling within the affected areas must be secured together with the sufferers.

At a video-conference with the Chief Ministers of Gujarat and Maharashtra and the directors of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Mr. Shah additionally suggested them to make sure sufficient shares of all important medicines and provides within the hospitals, conserving in view a probable disruption within the motion of automobiles, an announcement issued by the Union house ministry mentioned.

Tauktae is anticipated to achieve the Gujarat coast within the morning of May 18 with wind speeds of 150-160 {k}.m. per hour, accompanied by heavy rainfall and storm surge.

The assertion mentioned Mr. Shah “specifically reviewed the preparedness of all health facilities in the areas likely to be impacted by the cyclone”.

“He directed the state administration/district collectors to make adequate power backup arrangements in all COVID hospitals, labs, vaccine cold chains and other medical facilities,” it added.

For the well being amenities more likely to fall on the cyclone path, the house minister directed authorities for sufficient preparations to safe them and in addition for the evacuation of sufferers.

“They were also told to ensure the safety of the temporary hospitals set up near the oxygen-generating plants, in case needed, their patients may be shifted to other hospitals,” the assertion mentioned.

Mr. Shah additionally reviewed the influence of the cyclone on the oxygen-generation plants situated in Maharashtra and Gujarat.

“The minister directed authorities to make advance planning for keeping a buffer stock of oxygen for two days and for movement of oxygen tankers to allocated states, so that in case of any disruption, supply is not impacted,” it mentioned.

The Chief Ministers of Gujarat and Maharashtra “assured the minister of taking all necessary measures” to safe the healthcare amenities and the oxygen-generation plants.

The house minister additionally directed to make vital preparations for the protection of the facility plants to make sure uninterrupted electrical energy provide to the hospitals and well being amenities.

“He said that the likely cyclone-affected areas in Gujarat consist of industrial clusters, so their safety must be ensured and industry should also remain alert,” the assertion mentioned.

The house minister knowledgeable the Chief Ministers and the directors {that a} 24×7 management room is functioning within the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which “can be contacted at any time for any assistance by the states”.

He mentioned coast guard, navy, military and air pressure models have additionally been put on standby and surveillance plane and helicopters are finishing up aerial sorties.

Senior officers had been directed to take “every possible measure to ensure that people are safely evacuated and all essential services maintained, including health and oxygen facilities, power, telecommunications, drinking water etc. and that these are restored immediately in the event of any damage caused to them”.

The house minister additionally assured the states of all cooperation from the central authorities and its businesses.

“He said that maximum resources, government and private both, should be utilised to tackle the situation.

“The home minister directed the district collectors to coordinate with the private industries and ensure that their disaster management wings are totally geared up,” the assertion mentioned.

The cupboard secretary, secretaries of central ministries like house, well being, energy, division for promotion of trade and inside commerce (DPIIT), the NDMA member secretary, the administrators basic of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the chief secretaries of the 2 states, the advisors to the directors of the 2 Union territories, the catastrophe administration secretaries and the collectors of the districts involved in Gujarat and Maharashtra participated within the assembly.