New Delhi. Nov 23 (UNI) Union Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba on Monday chaired a meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) to review the status of impending Cyclone through video-conferencing with the Chief Secretaries of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

The Chief Secretaries of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry briefed the NCMC about their preparedness and mentioned that the authorities were fully prepared to meet any eventuality. They also informed about the coordination with the NDRF and other agencies to meet this challenge.

The Director General of India Meteorological Department made presentation on the present situation and mentioned that the status is being shared with the concerned state governments. He said the impending Cyclone is going to affect the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry between November 24 to 26.

Mr Gauba, while interacting with the concerned officials, emphasised on zero loss of life and early restoration of normalcy in the affected areas.

He asked the authorities to issue advisories to fishermen not to go into the sea and said the same should be strictly implemented. People living in 'kutcha' houses may be advised suitably according to the situation, he added.

Secretaries from Home, Power, Telecommunication, Civil Aviation, Shipping, Health Ministry, Chairman, Railway Board, Member Secretary, National Disaster Management Authority(NDMA), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) DG and representative of Ministry of Defence also informed the NCMC about the arrangements and assistance to the concerned states.

A cyclone named Nivar that is gaining strength on the Bay of Bengal will have landfall at the southern Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. The National Disaster Management Association alerts about heavy rainfall at isolated places in Tamil Nadu, Karaikal and Puducherry

UNI AKS RJ 2116