Monsoon blues: disaster management cells activated

The Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority has activated its district-level cells in the wake of reports that the depression over the Arabian Sea is likely to intensify and hit south Gujarat and the Saurashtra coast by Tuesday night,causing heavy to very heavy rain.

The Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA) has activated its district-level cells in the wake of reports that the depression over the Arabian Sea is likely to intensify and hit south Gujarat and the Saurashtra coast by Tuesday night,causing heavy to very heavy rain.

A high-level meeting of the State Weather Watch,attended by senior officials from the various departments concerned,including representatives of the Meteorological Department,was convened in Gandhinagar to review the situation.

We are in a state of readiness and have activated our control rooms in all the districts in view of the warnings. The district collectors have been instructed to ensure that nothing goes wrong in the event of any natural disaster, said Rajiv Topno,Joint Chief Executive Officer,GSDMA.

He told Newsline that GSDMA has already held district-level meetings,and that disaster management plans,with equipment,are in place to meet any adverse situation.

We are monitoring the situation and are not taking any chances, he added.

Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) Vice-Chairman Atanu Chakraborty said leave of all GMB officials posted at the government-owned ports across the state have been cancelled in view of the warning.

The Board has directed local port authorities to ensure that big ships are anchored properly. Besides,fishermen have been warned not to venture into the sea.

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Authorities have also been instructed to raise the danger signal at ports. At Porbandar and Veraval ports on the Saurashtra coast,the signal has already been raised to the most vulnerable level.

According to reports,the coastal districts of Jamnagar,Junagadh and Porbandar received good rainfall on Tuesday. We have also asked the local authorities at the private ports to take precautionary measures, Chakraborty added.

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