High alert on, Mahasen arrives, likely to hit CCpur, Tml first
schools/colleges holiday declared
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 16 2013:
As cyclone Mahasen is expected to sweep across Manipur at 75 Kms per hour starting from tonight, all schools and colleges have been declared holiday tomorrow whereas all Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police have been sent crash messages and put on high alert.
According to information received from Indian Meteorological Department, Manipur, the rainfall recorded in the State till 7.30 pm has been pegged at 12 mm, which signifies the arrival of the storm.
As of 2.30 pm today at 23.5 degree N and 92 degree E, the wind strength has been recorded at 65 km/hour, gusting at 85 km/hour.
The Ministry of Home Affairs intimated Relief and Disaster Management Principal Secretary Ram Muivah this morning that cyclonic storm Mahasen is expected to sweep across Manipur starting from tonight.
Subsequently, the Principal Secretary called on Chief Minister O Ibobi and held a meeting.
The meeting decided to close all schools and colleges tomorrow (May 17) .
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Mahasen is expected to sweep across Manipur at a speed ranging from 55-65 Kms/hour to 75 Kms/hour.
To face any eventuality arising out of the cyclonic storm, Disaster Management Department has given training to police personnel and prepared them to tackle any exigency, said Principal Secretary Ram Muivah.
Moreover, Civil Defence personnel have also been put on high alert.
Mahasen is likely to hit Churachandpur and Tamenglong districts first and it is these two districts which are likely to endure maximum impact of the cyclonic storm.
Emergency operation centres and district disaster management committees of all the districts have been alerted.
Informing that the district committees have been sanctioned Rs 15 lakhs each for emergency purposes, the Principal Secretary said that a control room has been opened at Ministers' Block, Secretariat.
The control room can be contact on telephone numbers 0385-2443441 .
According to an information received from Indian Meteorology Department, there may be heavy to very heavy rainfall in the next 35 hours in Manipur, Southern Assam, Mizoram, Tripura and Nagaland.
This may also cause damages in these States, it added.
Safety Tips.
Here are some of the safety tips given by the Government of Manipur with regard to the cyclonic storm Mahasen.
*Do not venture into lakes, rivers, ponds.
*Keep the valuables in safe places.
*Move cattle to safe place and store there ample fodder and water.
*Listen to radio for details and latest account on cyclone.
*Store dry food, drinking water and fuel when there is a warning.
*Move to the nearest cyclone shelter or any other safer place.
*Don't move outside during cyclone.