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PM Modi to visit Gujarat, Diu on Wednesday to review cyclone damage

Thirteen people have lost their lives since Monday night

[Left] Prime Minister Narendra Modi; [Right] A tree lies uprooted due to strong winds near Una Town in Gir Somnath district | PTI [Left] Prime Minister Narendra Modi; [Right] A tree lies uprooted due to strong winds near Una Town in Gir Somnath district | PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Gujarat and Union territory of Diu on Wednesday and conduct an aerial survey of the areas where Cyclone Tautake has left behind a trail of devastation, killing at least 13 people since Monday night. 

The tropical storm made a landfall in Wanakbara in Diu on Monday night and later turned into a severe cyclonic storm. It further weakened later in the night but not before bringing in winds at a speed of more than 100 kilometres and rainfall in several parts of the state. Ahmedabad, too, got heavy rains for more than five hours on Tuesday. 

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani’s office said that the prime minister will come to Bhavnagar from New Delhi and from there he will go to Amreli, Gir Somnath and Bhavnagar—some of the worst affected areas. 

The chief minister reiterated that a heavy loss to lives and property could be prevented due to advance planning. The state government had gone about tackling the cyclone with a mind set of “zero casualty”, he said claiming that that majority of the deaths were accidental. 

The government said out of the 425 COVID-19 hospitals in the state, 122 were in the affected areas. Out of these 122 hospitals, power supply was disrupted in 83 hospitals. However, the disruption was not felt for a single moment as alternative arrangements like the generator sets were made, Rupani said. 

Major loss has been reported from the mango orchards in Saurashtra region. The government will take up a survey of property and loss to the farmers, and cash doles would be given as per the norms, the chief minister said.

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