Amit Shah: Don’t allow healthcare to suffer in cyclone-hit states

Union Home Minister Amit Shah today reviewed the preparedness with the Chief Ministers of Gujarat and Maharashtra and administrator of Daman & Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli in view of cyclone “Tauktae”, as he directed the authorities to ensure that all health facilities in the areas likely to be impacted by the oceanic storm should be protected at all cost.

In an official release, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said, “During the meeting, Shah reviewed the preparedness of all health facilities in the areas likely to be impacted by the cyclone and directed the state administration and district collectors to make adequate power backup arrangements in all Covid hospitals, labs, vaccine cold chain and other medical facilities.”

The Home Minister also directed Maharashtra and Gujarat to make advance planning for keeping a buffer stock of oxygen for two days and movement of oxygen tankers allocated to the states so that in case of any disruption, supply to allocated states is not impacted.

“A 24×7 control room is functioning in the MHA that can be contacted at any time for any assistance by the states. The Indian Coast Guard, Navy, Army and Air Force units have also been put on standby and surveillance aircraft and helicopters are carrying out aerial sorties,” the release said.

The Indian Navy and the Coast Guard has ships ready with relief material and rescue.

Sources said the Naval warships would approach affected hamlets and villages in Karnataka and Maharashtra from the sea to provide relief.

Shah directed the senior officers to take every possible measure to ensure that people were safely evacuated and all essential services maintained.

The NDRF has deployed 101 teams across the states that are most likely to be affected due to the cyclone. As many as 79 teams along with 22 on standby have been deployed.  The Tribune