J P Nadda speaks to Gujarat, TN Health Ministers, assures support to combat cyclone ‘Ockhi’

Nadda stated that the Centre will provide full cooperation and assistance to the Cyclone affected states in its efforts to provide relief in cyclone affected areas.

He stated that the Health Ministry is geared up with all the necessary resources and a team of doctors has been put on standby for the cyclone affected areas to extend all necessary support to strengthen their efforts towards disaster management in the States.

The Union Health Minister stated that the Centre is ready to extend all assistance to the State in terms of preventive and relief measures for managing the situation.

Nadda further said that the Health Ministry will provide all help to the government of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu in dealing with the situation and has directed the officials in the ministry to stay in touch with the state’s health departments for any assistance.

Cyclone Ockhi is expected to make landfall near Surat and the Gulf of Khambhat in Gujarat as a deep depression early on Wednesday, media reports said quoting the Met Office.

The Met office also said that Gujarat is very likely to experience a wet spell during the next four days.

Meanwhile, media reports stated that about 5000 people have been shifted in Gujarat as the state itself to combat the cyclone.

Earlier in the day,  Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked his party members to offer assistance to people in the affected areas, according to media reports on Tuesday.

"With #CycloneOckhi expected to make a landfall in Gujarat, I appeal to @BJP4Gujarat Karyakartas to focus on helping people across the state. Our Karyakartas should devote themselves to providing all possible assistance and stand shoulder to shoulder with fellow citizens," the PM tweeted.

In another tweet he said, "Continuously monitoring the situation arising in various parts of the country due to #CycloneOckhi. Spoke to all relevant authorities and officials. All possible assistance is being provided to those affected."

High alert has been issued in Gujarat and Maharashtra in view of Cyclone Ockhi . Sea conditions to remain rough to very rough along and off north Maharashtra and South Gujarat coasts till Wednesday, media reported.

Ockhi, named by Bangladesh  under the the tropical cyclone naming system initiated by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in 2000, battered parts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Lakshadweep islands and claimed over 20 lives in the southern states.