‘Moving people to camps reduced loss of life’
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We ready for all eventualities and credit score goes to CM, says Minister for Disaster Management
Minister for Disaster Management R.B. Udhayakumar donned the position of a war-room supervisor, staying in a single day on the management room, when the State braced for Cyclone Nivar. In an interview on Friday, he spoke about how the federal government equipment cushioned the influence of the cyclone, in phrases of loss of life and property. Ensuring that 2.32 lakh individuals moved to reduction camps reduced the loss of lives, he says. Excerpts:
How did the federal government put together to face Cyclone Nivar?
We undertook a three-stage scientific strategy — pre-disaster, through the catastrophe and post-disaster.
In the pre-disaster part, we recognized 4,133 susceptible localities, classifying them into 4 classes — the place water inundation can be above 5 ft, up to 5 ft, 2 ft and 1 ft.
We undertook vulnerability mapping for each income district. We had our first responders prepared. Besides, we readied 4,000 taluk-levels groups, which had been consistently in contact with the area people.
Next, we determined to cease all modes of transport — buses, trains and flights — and had good coordination with the National Disaster Response Force, the SDRF and the armed forces.
Ministers and cops visited a number of villages to guarantee security.
We had over 5,000 reduction camps, together with 121 everlasting multi-purpose halls, the place over two lakh people had been housed. Through the Navy, we alerted fishermen who had gone for deep-sea fishing.
So these steps restricted the loss of life to three?
We can say that there was virtually no loss of life. If you see the three incidents [the toll has gone up to four now], one concerned a 90-year outdated girl who died after an outdated wall collapsed. In Tiruvallur too, the same wall collapsed. In the third incident in Chennai, which you’d have seen on tv, a tree fell on a person.
This was why the Chief Minister warned people towards going out unnecessarily, till six hours after the cyclone makes landfall.
He had additionally warned people not to go close to outdated and susceptible buildings.
But can the federal government declare all the credit score for minimal harm because the influence of the cyclone too was not so extreme throughout landfall?
The IMD mentioned wind pace due to the cyclone can be about 145 kmph, and we ready for it.
The Chief Minister gave directions to put together effectively prematurely. There had been three levels to the cyclone, and within the first stage it was not weak. Only after 80% of the second stage, did the cyclone weaken. There was heavy rainfall for 2 days earlier than the day it made landfall. We ready for all eventualities, and naturally, the credit score goes to the Chief Minister.
Was there any main problem?
Usually, people dwelling in low-lying areas hesitate to come [to relief camps]. They will hesitate to go away behind their cattle and different issues. People normally come solely after there’s inundation. Convincing them to come to reduction camps, for their very own security, is a problem. And we had been ready to do it. Over 2.32 lakh people got here to the camps, whereas throughout Cyclone Gaja, the quantity was solely about 1 lakh. The loss of human lives was much less solely as a result of people got here to the reduction camps.
How will you price the cooperation from the people, officers and the Opposition events?
There was 100% cooperation from most people. All officers from numerous Departments had been fairly devoted and labored arduous, round the clock. As for Opposition events, will probably be higher if they don’t say something as it would solely confuse the people.
What is your takeaway from the 4 cyclones you dealt with since December 2016?
We have been studying from each cyclone. Every cyclone has its personal characteristic, akin to wind pace. Depending on that, we have now been taking precautions.
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