PUDUCHERRY: In the wake of the depression formed over southwest Bay of Bengal intensifying and turning into a cyclonic storm, the administration has geared up its machinery to meet any eventuality.
An emergency meeting of officials of various departments was held at the disaster management relief centre here on Sunday evening after which 12 Emergency Support Function (ESF) teams was formed to tackle any emergency scenario.
The emergency meeting, held at instructions of district Collector D Manikandan, was chaired by Deputy Collector (North), A Vincent Rayar. Officials of the departments of revenue and disaster management, police, fire brigade, electricity, fisheries, health, municipalities, commune panchayats took part in the meeting.
Vincent Rayar told Express that the schools in the coastal regions will be used for the evacuated residents of the coastal region and that departments concerned have been instructed to store adequate food materials and safe drinking water.
The Deputy collector warned people against coming out of their houses in case the depression intensifies and requested them to store enough food, candles and torch lights.
He said a control room had already started functioning with toll free numbers ‘1070’ and ‘1077’.
Fishermen too were advised not to venture into sea along north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining Pudukkottai and Ramanathapuram districts for the next 48 hours.
Due to heavy rain, all Government and Private colleges in Puducherry have ordered to shut down on Monday by the administration.
Meanwhile, Puducherry received 48.7 mm rain from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm on Sunday.
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