Port Blair, March 22: A well-marked low-pressure area developed Southeast Bay of Bengal on 17.03.2022 at 1230 hrs. and IMD forecasted its likely intensification into a cyclone by 21.03.2022. The A & N Administration made elaborate arrangements concerning to the advancement of inclement weather condition. The Administration triggered its Machineries towards preparedness for combating the approach of bad weather in A & N Islands. The Directorate of Disaster Management geared up all the machineries and circulated Hydrometeorological Disaster Plan, Disaster Response Plan, Preparedness action plan for pre & Post Monsoon prepared and Advisories on Monsoon Preparedness for Cyclone, Heavy Rain, Water Logging etc. and also, Dos and Don’ts on Flood, Cyclone and Lightening Safety issued to electronic & print media and social media viz: Twitter (@ddmani4), Instagram (disastermgtani), Facebook and Koo App for public awareness.
The Ministry of Home Affairs provided 05 teams of NDRF on 18/03/2022 to strengthen the machineries of A & N Administration for combating the cyclone storm NDRF personnel have been deployed in various places, viz, Car Nicobar, Hut Bay, N & M Andaman and South Andaman. The NDRF team in coordination with District Administration taken up preparatory and precautionary measures for combating the cyclone storm. The stake holders of various line departments, viz, Police, APWD, Electricity, PBMC, Forest, DSS, DHS, PMF, PMB, Agriculture, Transport, Civil Aviation, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs and Fisheries etc. were kept on alert.
The A & N Command also coordinated their air assets, ships for disseminating the alert to the fishermen fishing in the mid sea for their return journey before the approach of cyclone storm. All the four components, Navy, Coast Guard, Army and Air Force stationed at State Emergency Operation Centre along with their HF/VHF, iSAT Phones2 and erected mobile communication towers in the SEOC for horizontal and vertical communication 24x7. The Nodal Officer of Emergency Support Functionaries viz, APWD, PBMC, Electricity, Police, Fisheries were also present in the SEOC for receiving and disseminating the information during bad weather.
The District Administration South Andaman, North and Middle Andaman and Car Nicobar had played a commendable job and evacuated almost 1110 persons from different location in the Relief Shelters for avoiding the adverse weather conduction and provided food and other amenities. The district of South Andaman also triggered their Civil Defence force and SelfHelp Groups during the bad weather in different places.
The local electronic and print media cooperation is well appreciated for disseminating the information in the public domain.
The Administration has also thanked the General Public who supported and co-ordinated with the Administration for combating the inclement weather condition since 18th to 22nd March, 2022.