Govt announces precautions ahead of “Cyclone Mahasen”

IMPHAL, May 16: As per the official report that a potent cyclonic storm “Mahasen” may hit some areas of North East India including South Assam., Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura and Nagaland, the government of Manipur has decided to take up precautionary measures.

Ram Muivah, Principal Secretary (Relief and Disaster Management) briefed the media at his office chambers located at old Secretariate, Imphal regarding the precautionary measures being taken up keeping the possible advent of the cyclone to the state.

The Principal Secretary said that he received an official report on the strong cyclonic storm from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) of Government of India through fax at around 12.30 p.m. It is learnt from a reliable source that cyclonic storm “Mahasen” with squally wind speed reaching 55-65 kmph with a possible 75 kmph can reach the north eastern region. Following the official report from the MHA, the state government held a high level meeting attended by  concerned officials soon after the official report was received he said.

As per the resolutions at the meeting, tomorrow will be a holiday in all the schools in the state so as to protect children from the cyclonic storm if the storm occurs. As colleges and government offices are for mature persons, all concerned has been instructed that they take up due precautionary measures, the Principal Secretary said.

Ram Muivah also said that the state Civil Defence Disaster now has 24 staff members and the department has already discussed about necessary steps to be taken up for the possible heavy rainstorm.

All the District Management Committees are headed by Deputy Commissioners and these committees have already sanctioned Rs 15 lakh each for every district for providing emergency relief to the people in case of damage and losses during the windstorm, he added.

The District Emergency Operation Centres have also been kept opened following the possible storm warning, he said adding all the Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police have instructed to deploy all the police personnel who have got training for Disaster Management.

A control room has been opened for the people to obtain information about the cyclonic storm Mahasen. Its telephone number is 0385 – 2443441. It is expected that the cyclonic storm “Mahasen” would impact areas in Tamenglong and Churachandpur most in the state.

The Principal Secretary further said that he had sent crash messages to Deputy Commisioners (DC) of Churachandpur, Tamenglong, Senapati, Chandel, Ukhrul, Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur and Thoubal District. The copies of the said message were issued to Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Moreh, Jiribam and Kangpokpi. Superintendents of police (SPS) and Chief Medical Officers (CMOS) of all Districts have been placed on alert.

Our CCpur Correspondent adds: Following a meeting with community leaders and other MLAs and ADC members of Churachandpur district, Minister T Phungzathang Tonsing told media persons that the government is taking the cyclone threat seriously.

He said that the cyclone that hit Mizoram had already reached parts of the Manipur-Mizoram border at Aibulon village where a villager was injured and subsequently, is undergoing medical treatment.

The Minister said that the district administration had set up a cell in the DC office where any incident regarding the cyclone can be reported to the mobile number 9612484009. The Governmentt has further advised private schools to remain closed for the ongoing week from tomorrow as a protective measure and for the general safety, the minister also added that  the different philanthropic organizations of the district are being called upon to be ready for any eventuality.

Meanwhile, the District Administration has also issued precautionary measures in view of the cyclone threat warning people against going to the fields/ farm for at least two days, and to stay in safe and strong buildings and not to stay near big trees.

Some places that  are likely to be hit by the cyclone include Zoupi, Hanship, Aibulon, Bungpilon, Palkhuang, Sumtuk, Khaijang, Phaitong Khuanggin and Sinzawl village in Thanlon sub division and Tipaimul, Sipuikon, Rovakot, Senvon, Sitam, Parvachom, Lungthulien and Leisen village in the Tipaimuk sub division of Churachandpur.