We must ensure zero casualty in cyclone Yaas: Piyush Goyal

Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal on Monday emphasized on zero casualty situation due to the Yaas cyclone and stressed that relief supplies should get channelized to the real beneficiaries after the cyclone passes by. At an interaction with the industry on the preparedness for Cyclone Yaas, petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan assured that the supply of Liquid medical oxygen from eastern India to the rest of the country will not be affected.

Industry raised the issue of constant power supply through diesel generator sets in cyclone shelters for those using oxygen concentrators, maintaining Covid protocol in such shelters, fast restoration of communication channels as work from home depends on that, and real time information gathering through drones and maps.

The meeting was also attended by the senior officers of India Meteorological Department, National Disaster Management Authority, ministries of shipping, railways, and various state governments.


“We must ensure a completely zero casualty situation and the collective efforts of governments and industry participants can actually make that happen,” Goyal said, adding that central and state governments are working together to ensure an orderly planning, relief and rehabilitation measures post cyclone.

He said relief supplies should be properly channelized, minimum outages of Communication and electricity ensured, mobile and torches kept fully charged, and DG sets fully stocked up with fuel.

“NDMA informed that pre-emptive measures have already been taken to minimize the loss of lives and property. All agencies have been put on high alerts and they are working in close coordination to undertake rescue and relief operations,” the commerce and industry said in a statement, adding that all the fishing boats have been brought to the shore.

Shipping minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that meeting with the industry before the cyclone Tauktae helped the authorities as well as the industry and helped in taking preemptive steps, and also take post-cyclone relief, rescue and rehabilitation steps in an effective manner.

“We need to look at the residual impact of the cyclone on larger areas. Like Tauktae impacted Delhi, the impact of Yaas can be felt in the North East. East is an important source of raw material and disruptions there will impact process industries,” said an Assocham representative.

Representatives of the pharma industry assured that there would be no delays in supplies of pharmaceuticals.

Railway Board officials said that passenger trains have been stopped in certain areas where the cyclone is expected to land, the freight trains’ movement is regulated and would be stopped if wind speed goes above 75 kmph.

Government officials assured that restoration work will begin in a phased manner once the wind speed falls.