Eighteen helicopters, 12 aircraft and two war ships have been kept ready by the government for rescue and relief operations in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh which are facing the brunt of cyclone
'Phailin'.
Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said the Indian Air Force choppers and aircraft and the two navy ships are placed in close proximity of the eastern coastline and would be deployed for rescue and
relief operations.
"The cyclone has left Andaman Nicobar Islands and will hit Odisha any time now. Three districts of Andhra Pradesh and 8 districts in Odisha are likely to be affected," he told reporters here.
Shinde said 5.5 lakh people in Odisha and 1 lakh people in Andhra Pradesh were evacuated in safer places, mostly in 500 cyclone shelters.
"Some people have showed resistance (against evacuation). Forces have been alerting them. Police have been trying to evacuate them," he said.
The Home Minister said Army has sent more than 2,000 personnel to deployed in relief and rescue operations.
Shinde said all Central Ministries were working in close tandem and offering all help to the two state governments for relief and rescue operations.
"Union Home Secretary is in regular touch with state Chief Secretaries and monitoring the situation," he said.
The Home Minister said 500 cyclone shelters were built after the 1999 super cyclone where arrangements have been made for food and other essential commodities.
Helpline Numbers:
Odisha: 0674-2534177
District control room number:
Mayurbhanj 06792-252759, Jajpur 06728-222648, Gajapati 06815-222943, Dhenkanal 06762-221376 Khurda 06755-220002, Keonjhar 06766-255437, Cuttak 0671-2507842, Ganjam 06811-263978, Puri 06752-223237, Kendrapara 06727-232803, Jagatsinghpur 06724-220368, Balasore 06782-262674, Bhadrak 06784-251881. Andhra Pradesh: 040-23456005/23451043 Fax-040-23451819
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