Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today chaired a emergency high-level meeting to review preparedness for Cyclone Hudhud. The meeting was attended by the Cabinet Secretary, the Principal Secretary to the PM, the Additional Principal Secretary to the PM, the Home Secretary, the Defence Secretary, and other senior officials from the IMD and PMO. The Prime Minister was briefed on evacuation and other ongoing precautionary and preparatory measures being undertaken for the cyclone. These include deployment of teams from the Armed Forces and NDRF, depletion of reservoirs to accommodate cyclonic rainwater, positioning of boats, swimmers and relief camps, and standby systems to restore power and telecom services. After reviewing the emerging situation, the Prime Minister asked the Home Minister to remain in touch with Chief Ministers of the states likely to be affected by the cyclone. He instructed senior officers of the Union Government to maintain close contact and coordination with officers of the affected states, to ensure that relief and rescue operations proceed smoothly. He said suitable arrangements should be made to inform people about the cyclone on a real-time basis.
