Cyclone 'Sitrang': West Bengal, Tripura buckle up for impact

Several teams of the disaster management department along with SDRF and NDRF personnel took precautionary measures in view of cyclone Sitrang in West Bengal and the Northeast.

Kolkata/Agartala: Several teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) on Monday have taken all precautionary measures, including evacuation of people and supply of relief materials to shelters to deal with possible devastation under the impact of cyclone 'Sitrang' in West Bengal and Northeast.

Speaking to ETV Bharat, Dr. Sarat Kumar Das, Project Officer of State Disaster Management in Tripura said, "This morning five teams comprising 125 personnel and one officer of NDRF arrived in Tripura. They will be deployed in Kumarghat of Unakoti district, Teliamura of Khowai district, Santirbazar of South district, Udaipur of Gomati district, and Gokulnagar of Sepahijala district." He further said that no damage was reported so far.

"Leaves of all officials have been canceled for next week. Schools and educational institutions will be closed for three days from 24 to 26 October. All line departments should take immediate steps for preparedness and immediate response. Relief camps are advised to be notified, and relief materials to be arranged in advance," he said.

Meanwhile, a senior official in West Bengal said, "No tourists and fishermen are being allowed to go into the sea. Special teams of police along with State Disaster Response Force and National Disaster Response Force personnel have been deployed. We are not taking chances."

Administrations of South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, and Purba Medinipur have been kept on alert as 'Sitrang' is expected to bring in its wake heavy to very heavy rain and wind reaching speed of 90 to 100 kmph, gusting to 110 kmph, in these districts, he said, citing the Met department bulletin. The weather system is expected to make a landfall between Tinkona island and Sandwip in Bangladesh early on October 25.

It lay centered around 430 km south of Sagar Island on Monday morning, the weather office said. Most of those staying in the coastal areas have been moved to safe shelters where "plenty of drinking water pouches, medicines, milk and dry food have been supplied," the official said. "We have asked the district administrations not to take any chance. As the day progresses, the weather condition is expected to deteriorate. We have advised people to stay indoors in case there is heavy rainfall as an impact of the cyclone," he said.

Besides, control rooms in coastal districts have been opened, and all developments are also being monitored by disaster management department personnel from the state secretariat 'Nabanna'. Kolkata Police's disaster management groups have been kept ready to deal with the possible impact of the cyclone on the city.

"All ghats along the Hooghly river in the city and ferry services have been closed. Our river patrolling teams are keeping a constant watch on the situation," a Kolkata Police officer said. Kolkata Municipal Corporation keeps all pumping stations active to prevent waterlogging due to heavy rain under the impact of the cyclone, a civic body official said, adding that all personnel of the emergency department are on duty.

"We have kept pumping stations active so that if there is water-logging in the low-lying areas of the city, we will be able to drain out within hours. Community halls are kept open and people staying near the Hooghly river have been cautioned of possible inundation. We have directed our personnel to be ready to get into action immediately in case of any emergency," he added.