Visakhapatnam: Collector pulls out all stops to minimise impact of ‘Asani’

Beaches off-limits for visitors; alert sounded in low-lying areas

With Cyclone Asani expected to move close to the Andhra Pradesh coast on Wednesday morning, Collector A. Mallikarjuna

In the wake of Cyclone Asani, Collector A. Mallikarjuna has instructed officials to open cyclone rehabilitation centres on an immediate basis and ensure that they are equipped with the necessary facilities.

“Leaves of all employees have been cancelled and they have to report to work,” the Collector instructed officials, and has also alerted the NDRF, SDRF, Navy and Coast Guard to be on standby.

The Collector conducted a video-conference with heads and senior officials from various departments of the district on Tuesday.

Mr. Mallikarjuna said that control rooms have been set up at the Collectorate, Revenue Divisional Offices, police headquarters and at Mandal-level revenue offices. The control rooms will have staff from Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC), Fire, Panchayat Raj, Revenue, Police, Roads & Buildings, Irrigation and Forest Departments. Employees from these wings will be posted in shifts at the control rooms, he said.

“Officials should respond to distress calls at the control room immediately and take necessary action. In case of uprooting of trees, electric poles, falling of hoardings, banners and collapse of old buildings, concerned officials must be pressed into action immediately to clear them. Officials must ensure that there is no water-logging at the mandal-level. Steps should be taken to ensure uninterrupted mobile network connectivity. Under no circumstances should there be any casualties,” the Collector said.

He also asked the Fisheries officials to issue a warning to fisherfolk to not venture into the sea for the next two to three days. He asked the police to arrange pickets along the coastal stretch in the district to ensure that people do not go near the beaches. He also instructed that trained swimmers be kept on standby if needed.