Co-ordination among Centre, Gujarat saves lives

Press Trust of India

New Delhi: Very good coordination among the central and Gujarat governments, the NDRF and all agencies concerned during Cyclone Biparjoy successfully saved precious lives, sources said on Saturday. The weather system, which hit the landmass near Jakhau port as a very severe cyclonic storm on Thursday evening, turned into a deep depression and will further lose steam to become a depression, the India Meteorological Department said in its latest update.

Home Minister Amit Shah visited the cycloneaffected areas of Jakhau and Mandvi in Gujarat to take stock of the relief operation. Sources privy to the development said there was very good coordination between the central and state governments, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and all agencies concerned during the cyclonic storm that hit Gujarat.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the able guidance of Home Minister Shah, the success achieved in dealing with such a huge storm showcases the story of strong and successful disaster resistance and management, they said. They added that the determination of the Government of India to minimise the loss of life and property is clearly visible in these efforts.

From the formation of the International Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure to the steps taken to strengthen and expand the NDRF, the government's commitment, under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, to ensure zero casualties during disasters is quite visible, they said.

They pointed out that the loss of life and property due to cyclones has come down by about 98 per cent in the last nine years because of the continuous efforts of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. The Centre adopted a holistic and integrated approach towards disaster management under the prime minister's leadership, they said. Earlier, the approach of governments towards disasters was about postdisaster relief. Now, the approach is to ensure zero casualties through pre-disaster preparedness.

It is also indicative that the traditional deterministic approach towards disasters has been discarded and it was resolved that, while it may not be possible to avoid natural disasters, with determination and effort, minimal damage can be ensured, the sources said. The glimpse of New India is clearly visible in this new temperament, they said. The National Disaster Management Plan was launched by PM Modi.