The Chief Minister is likely to hold next review meeting on the latest situation tomorrow morning.

The Chief Minister was told that yet another cyclonic depression is formed near Andamans and may hit North Tamil Nadu-South Andhra Pradesh in the next two days causing heavy rains.  The Chief Minister asked the Agricultural Department to advice farmers to spray salt water on the paddy to prevent germination.

The Chief Minister wanted more relief camps to be opened and evacuate people from the low lying areas. He also wanted the District Collectors to be on constant vigil and the Control rooms at the State Headquarters and District Headquarters to work round the clock to help the people and provide information and guidance.

Earlier in the morning, before proceeding to the AICC meeting, the Chief Minister had a telephonic review on the situation with the Chief Secretary and other officials.

Following directions from the Chief Minister, entire District Administration in the State was immediately alerted. Control Rooms were also established at District, Division and Mandal Levels and Collectors were instructed to monitor the situation round the clock. The District Collectors concerned were authorized to draw amounts necessary for providing immediate relief in the camps for food, drinking water etc., as per the norms of Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) under TR-27. The District Collectors were also directed to keep watch of the situation round the clock.

The District Collectors were instructed to alert the people living in the low-lying coastal areas and other affected districts and were instructed to move the people to the safer places. Further they were instructed to take all necessary precautionary measures. The District Collectors were also instructed to make necessary arrangements for evacuating the affected people and the animals to safer places like cyclone shelters, school buildings, gram panchayat offices, public health centers, high schools, rice mills, cinema theaters etc. if necessary.

The Army, Navy and Air Force were requested to be ready for deployment of forces in case of necessity. Alternative communication network such as the Ham Radio network and Satellite phones were kept ready at the disposal of district administration.

The District Collectors in coordination with Civil Supplies Dept. were instructed to keep adequate food stocks in readiness including drinking water sachets, emergency lamps/lights etc. Medical and Health department were instructed to keep sufficient quantities of essential medicines and 108 & 104 medical ambulance services were kept ready for providing medical facilities/ first aid to the people who have been affected.

The Electricity department was instructed to take special care to monitor the power situation so as to avoid human loss due to electric shocks, short circuits etc., and protect the people. The APSRTC was instructed to keep sufficient transport facilities ready for movement of people in case of evacuation and supply of essentials.

The District Collectors were instructed to alert Medical and Health Dept. and Animal Husbandry Dept. to keep stock of essential medicines and make available the services of medical and Para-medical staff at short notice.

The District Collectors were instructed to ensure sanitation and availability of power and drinking water at cyclone shelters and other places where the evacuated people are being kept.  For this purpose, the Village level officers and officials of Panchayat Raj (PR) Dept. were directed to be alerted. The R&B and PR Department were alerted to keep vigil on roads and keep close watch on all bridges and culverts in vulnerable areas.

Teams have been kept ready to do farmer wise enumeration for the crop damage. Enumeration work will be taken up once water recedes. Instructions have been given to complete enumeration with in 10 days and submit detailed report along with list of beneficiaries as per proforma communicated.