Rajnath Singh speaks to CMs; asks them to be ready for rain fury

NEW DELHI: Home Minister Rajnath Singh today spoke to Chief Ministers of Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, assuring them of full support from the Centre to deal with any situation arising out of heavy rains in the wake of cyclone Hudhud.

During his telephonic talk with the six Chief Ministers, the Home Minister asked them to be fully prepared for the rain fury and said that the central government will offer whatever assistance they would seek.

Singh took stock of the situation in these states post Hudhud's landfall at Visakhapatnam and the Chief Ministers briefed him in detail.

"The states seem to be prepared for any eventuality arising from the impact of Hudhud that is expected to bring heavy rains," a Home Ministry official said.

The Home Minister had a telephonic conversations with the Chief Ministers of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh yesterday.

Cyclone Hudhud today weakened into a deep depression and lay centred over south Chhattisgarh and its neighbourhood, according to the meteorological department.

Cyclone Hudhud pounded the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha with heavy rain and winds of almost 200 kmph yesterday leaving eight people dead and a trail of devastation with Vishakapatnam, where the very severe storm made landfall, bearing the brunt.

Under its impact, thundershowers would occur at many places in the coming hours, while heavy to very heavy rainfall has been forecast for some areas.