The way the Gujarat government and the Central agencies have worked to protect lives during Cyclone Biparjoy is a classic example of teamwork, said Union Home Minister Amit Shah after conducting an aerial survey of areas affected by the cyclone in Kutch district and meeting the injured in a hospital.
Not even a single casualty was reported because of Cyclone Biparjoy, Shah said, hailing the state government for “fully implementing” the NDMA guidelines.
“In the last 40 years, I have visited several places but for the first time, I have seen happy faces without any complaints. This is because of the preparedness of the Gujarat government and the Central agencies working here,” he said.
The home minister informed that 47 people have been injured in the cyclone-related incidents, but none of them is serious. Around 234 animals died during the cyclone, he said.
Shah said power has been restored in 1,600 out of the 3,400 villages where the supply was cut. Around 1.08 lakh civilians and 73,000 animals had been taken to safe places due to the cyclone.
“Our priority is restoration of electricity, water supply and sending people who are in shelters to their homes,” Shah said.
The minister said that the pattern for the support package has been prepared, and the Gujarat government will make an announcement for the same later.
Nineteen teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), 13 teams of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and two Reserve Battalions were deployed. Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Police, and BSF also worked with the NDRF and the SDRF to ensure safety, Shah said.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi had ordered to make all arrangements before the landfall of the cyclone. The PM himself had discussions with the state government and agencies regarding the preparedness,” he noted.
Shah landed in Kutch district headquarters Bhuj in a chopper and conducted an aerial survey of Jakhau, which bore the brunt of the powerful cyclone on Thursday night. He was accompanied by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendera Patel.
He visited the Mandvi sub-district hospital and met injured people and pregnant women who were shifted from coastal villages hit by the cyclone, which had made landfall near Jakhau port.
Shah also visited a farm near Mandvi to assess the damage caused to crops and interacted with farmers.
He met personnel of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Border Security Force (BSF) at Mandvi airport who were involved in the relief and rescue operations.
The Union home minister flew back to Bhuj and discussed the post-cyclone situation.
Several towns and hundreds of villages plunged into darkness as strong winds unleashed by the cyclone uprooted electricity poles.
Among 1,09,000 persons shifted from coastal areas to temporary shelters, there were 10,918 children, 5,070 senior citizens and 1,152 pregnant women, the government had said in a release.
With PTI inputs
