Odisha CM Patnaik chairs high-level meeting on tsunami alert

Bhubaneswar, Apr 11 (ANI): Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik chaired a high-level meeting here on Wednesday to ensure that systems are in place in case of any earthquake or tsunami warnings.

Odisha Revenue Minister Surya Narayan Patro said here today that the state government has asked the Collectors of the coastal districts to remain on high alert.

"We have received information from our Hyderabad centre that the states should remain alert on tsunami in the coastal belt. Accordingly, we have been waiting for further orders," said Patro.

"Of course now, the situation has changed. But to take precautionary measures, we have asked 26 Collectors of costal districts to remain alert., asking people not to get inside the sea. More than 400 villagers of the coastal districts have been warned," he added.

The Union Home Ministry has asked the Chief Secretaries of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and all East Coast States to issue a Coastal Alert, in view of the alert issued by the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) following the earthquake of magnitude 8.5 on the richter scale in Indonesia today.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture out in the sea. The Andaman Administration has moved people from Nicobar side to safer areas, as a precautionary measure. The precautionary drill has been activated.

NDRF teams have been deployed and kept on standby as a precautionary measure. Six teams have moved to Chennai.

In addition, six more teams have moved to Hindon airport. Airlift will be organized by the Air Force in case these teams need to be flown. (ANI)