West Bengal closes schools and ICDS centers in 9 districts ahead of the cyclone

“We have started taking measures since yesterday,” says Mamata Banerjee (File)

Calcutta:

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said the state government is ready to respond to any disaster that might arise due to an approaching cyclone and announced that educational institutions and ICDS centers in nine districts will be closed from Wednesday as a precautionary measure would remain closed until October 26. .

She said that teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and SDRF have already been deployed and integrated control rooms, both at state and district levels, are becoming functional 24×7.

A well-marked low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal deepened into a depression on Tuesday as it rolled towards the east coast with the possibility of a severe cyclonic storm, the IMD said.

“Our government is ready to tackle this cyclonic storm. We have already started integrated control rooms at state and district levels and they are working 24×7.

“As a precaution, fishermen have been asked not to enter the sea. Public address systems are available in the coastal areas. The District Magistrates (DMs) and Superintendents of Police (SPs) have been asked to keep their eyes open until the situation normalizes,” Mamata Banerjee said.

According to the Indian Meteorological Department’s forecast, the weather system may strengthen and the approaching cyclone will make landfall somewhere between Puri and Sagar Island, she said.

“The wind speed may rise above 110 or 120 km per hour,” Mamata Banerjee added.

The IMD said in its bulletin that the well-marked low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal was concentrated into a depression and was located 700 km from Paradip in Odisha and 750 km from Sagar Island in West Bengal around 8.30 am on Tuesday. .

The depression will further intensify into a cyclonic storm by October 23 and cross the coasts of North Odisha and South West Bengal between Puri and Sagar Island in the early morning hours of October 25 as a severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 100-110 km/ you, with gusts of wind. up to 120 km/h, it said.

The Bengal CM said districts in South and North 24 Parganas, Purba Medinipur and coastal areas are expected to be severely affected.

“Paschim Medinipur, Bankura, Jhargram and Hooghly districts are likely to be affected. Schools in these districts will remain closed from October 23 to 26 as a precaution. We don’t want to take any risks and we don’t want anyone to be in danger. Schools and universities are sometimes used as shelters for people,” she said.

According to a notification issued by the state government, educational institutions in North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Purba Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Bankura, Howrah, Hooghly and Kolkata will remain closed from Wednesday to October 26.

The Bengal CM said the district administrations have been asked to shift all those living in low-lying areas to safe places.

“We have started taking measures since yesterday. Ferry operations in coastal areas and districts will not remain operational until the situation returns to normal. As a precautionary measure, the movements of tourists are being monitored,” she said.

Mamata Banerjee said that Chief Secretary Manoj Pant held a meeting with all concerned departments, NDRF, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), power companies and municipal corporations.

“Several chief secretaries have been appointed as observers in different districts. Manish Jain will be in charge of South 24 Parganas, Rajesh Kumar Sinha for North 24 Parganas, Rajesh Pandey for Howrah, Surendra Gupta for Paschim Medinipur, Onkar Singh Meena for Hooghly, Pervez Siddique for Purba Medinipur and Dr Saumitra Mohan for Jhargram, and Abanindra Singh for Bankura,” she said.

The Bengal CM said she has asked ministers staying in remote districts not to attend the next cabinet meeting scheduled for October 24.

“We have a cabinet meeting on October 24. I have asked ministers staying in distant places to stay there and monitor the situation in case of a cyclonic storm.

“I have asked Bankim Hazra of Sagar Island and Manas Bhunia of Paschim Medinipur district not to attend the cabinet meeting. We have asked those living in the coastal areas of Bengal to stay there and not leave their respective areas as they are required to do so. Keep their eyes open. Since there is no minister from Purba Medinipur district, I am sending observers there,” she added.

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