Head of State Secretariat meets after forecast of very heavy rains and orders officials to prepare in advance

Gandhinagar (Gujarat) (India), August 25 (ANI): Taking into account the forecast of heavy to very heavy rainfall made by the Gujarat Meteorological Department, a review meeting was held at the State Emergency Operation Centre under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Rajkumar.

In this meeting, the Chief Secretary advised the Nodal Officers of various departments, District Survey Collectors and Municipal Commissioners who were connected through video conferencing to remain alert against possible dangers.

At the meeting, an official from the India Meteorological Department provided detailed information on the forecast of heavy to very heavy rainfall in Gujarat during the next week.

Based on this, the Chief Secretary directed the various district administrations to make all necessary arrangements. He also directed the officials and employees of the district and taluka administrative system to be present on duty at the headquarters, considering the prevailing rainy situation.

The Chief Secretary said that special vigil should be kept at places where people are likely to gather in large numbers due to the holy month of Shravan festivals in the state so that there are no accidents or mishaps due to heavy rains.

In addition, all the in-charge secretaries were also notified to be present in their respective districts, taking into account the situation and providing necessary guidance to the administration.

Animal Husbandry, Power, Agriculture, CWC, Roads & Buildings, Health & Family Welfare, Panchayats, GMB, Urban Development Department, Irrigation, Sardar Sarovar Nigam, NDRF and Coast Guard etc. in the forecast districts keeping in view the heavy rainfall conditions in the state. The officials of the departments have also been notified to take precautionary measures.

The Chief Secretary directed the line departments concerned to take necessary measures to ensure that the water does not fill up after the rain stops, that diseases do not spread, that closed roads are restored immediately, that electricity supply is stopped and that the water level is continuously monitored as water enters the dam.

Apart from this, Additional Chief Secretary of Revenue Department Jayanthi Ravi and Principal Secretary of Urban Development Department Ashwini Kumar made several suggestions to the administration and asked them to be vigilant.

Relief Commissioner Alok Kumar Pandey also told all the nodal officers present at the meeting to take all precautionary measures considering the prevailing situation.

According to a statement by the CMO, Valsad, Tapi, Navsari, Surat, Narmada and Panchmahal districts in south Gujarat have been the worst hit by heavy rains.

The maximum rainfall recorded in the last 24 hours was 326 mm in Vapi, Valsad. Normal life was affected in some parts of the state due to heavy rains and waterlogging. (ANI)