Asani hits flight ops, rain, gusts disrupt life

Visakhapatnam: Several airlines including IndiGo, AirAsia and Air India both arrival and departures from Visakhapatnam from Chennai, Hyderabad and other destinations were suspended on Tuesday as a precautionary measure due to Cyclone Asani which caused moderate to heavy rain with gusty winds at several places disrupting normal life in North Coastal Andhra.

Even as the cyclone is predicted to weaken, the official machinery in both Andhra Pradesh and Odisha is fully geared up to tackle any emergency. Both AP Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and his Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik held review meetings separately by passing instructions to the officials to not take any chances.

The Navy has deployed its ships and personnel to rise to the occasion whenever required to carry out rescue and relief operations. Helplines have been opened at all the district headquarters and mandal revenue offices. As a precautionary measure, Visakhapatnam Port Authority suspended its operations on Tuesday. Visakhapatnam International Airport Director K. Srinivasa Rao said IndiGo itself cancelled 23 flights, both arrivals and departures from Visakhapatnam citing inclement weather. All through Visakhapatnam (VTZ) Airport flights for Wednesday also stand cancelled.

The Navy said it is closely monitoring the movement of Asani in the Bay of Bengal as it is inching towards North Coastal Andhra and Odisha during the next 24 hours. Headquarters, Eastern Naval Command and Naval Officers'-In-Charge at AP and Odisha have carried out preparatory activities to deal with the impact of the severe cyclone and are in constant liaison with the respective State Administration to render assistance as required. As part of preparedness, 19 flood relief teams and six divings teams along with Gemini craft and associated gears are kept standy at Visakhapatnam for rendering assistance to civil authorities. Five Indian Navy ships are kept on standby with relief material, diving and medical teams to rush to most affected areas. Naval aircraft have been kept ready at Naval Air Stations, INS Dega here and INS Rajali near Chennai to undertake aerial survey of most affected areas and casualty evacuation if required.

East Coast Railway (ECoR) has done preparations and ground work to meet the challenges posed by Cyclone Asani. With experience in past devastating cyclones, ECoR has planned for early restoration of train traffic and railway track, if affected by cyclone-induced heavy rain. Round the clock Disaster Management Cell has been opened at ECoR HQs at Rail Sadan and at Divisional Headquarters at Visakhapatnam, Khurda Road and Sambalpur.

ECoR has taken steps o¬n positioning of special teams for early restoration of tracks, signaling system and electrification. diesel locomotives have been kept in position for utilisation during failure of electricity. ECoR is keeping a watchful eye at all the stations in Howrah-Chennai Main Line in its jurisdiction including Branch Lines.