Govt to release funds, may not to declare Cyclone Hudhud a 'national calamity'

NEW DELHI: With the government focus now being shifted to relief, rescue and rehabilitation measures in the Hudhud-affected areas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday spoke to Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu and promised all possible help as the latter urged him to declare the cyclonic event as a "national calamity".

The Andhra Pradesh chief minister also wrote to the Centre, seeking an ad hoc relief package of Rs 2,000 crore.

Though there are no provision and fixed norms, at present, to declare such disaster as 'national calamity', officials here said the Centre may think over declaring it a calamity of 'severe nature' making it possible for the states to get required assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).

It is expected that the Centre may soon release assistance from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to meet the immediate needs of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.

Army, Navy, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and other central agencies have, meanwhile, been instructed to provide necessary assistance to the states in the 'relief, rescue and rehabilitation' phase. Rehabilitation exercise may stretch to the next few weeks, considering the extent of damage and evacuation.

Although the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) assured that the worst is now over, the affected Andhra Pradesh and Odisha and neighbouring Chhattisgarh, east Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Bihar may see heavy to very heavy rainfalls in the next 24 hours.

"The communication services and power and electricity have been considerably damaged in the affected districts. A detailed assessment will be carried out as soon as the wind speed is reduced and the roads are cleared", said the home ministry in a statement after meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), chaired by the Cabinet secretary Ajit Seth.

Besides, naval base at Vishakhapatnam has also seen some damage with approximately 30-40% trees uprooting inside Naval Station. "Some naval installations on Dolphin Hill have suffered damage", said the defence ministry.

Meanwhile, the NDRF doubled the strength of its teams stationed in Vishakhapatnam in order to undertake swift relief and rescue operations. The eastern Naval Command has also been put on high alert to provide any assistance towards rescue and relief of affected persons.

"Indian Naval Ships Ranjit, Shivalik, Shakti and Airavat are ready to sail with relief material for 5000 personnel embarking onboard the ships. Additionally, four more ships have been kept ready for sailing at short notice for relief operations as required", said the ministry.

In addition, approximately 250 NDRF and 300 Army troops have been deployed in/around Visakhapatnam. Army columns have also been deployed in North Andhra at Achutapuram, Palasa and at Etcherla.

The IAF has provided a mobile communication team as part of the contingency preparedness procedure. The IAF mobile communication team has been kept standby at INS Circars.

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