‘SOS teams should reach within 10 minutes of alert’

State Revenue Minister RB Udayakumar who chaired a monsoon preparedness meeting at the City Corporation along with his cabinet colleague and Local Administration Minister SP Velumani, said the government has taken steps to ensure that the disaster management teams would only take five to 10 minutes to respond to flood emergencies. 

About 498 zonal teams and 1,400-member first-respondent teams are in place in the state to handle eventualities of every kind during the ensuing north-east monsoon season. The first respondents include trained swimmers and life-saving experts who would be engaged in searchand-rescue missions during floods.

The government has also issued identity cards to the first respondent. Like in the past, a number of fishermen would also be roped in for rescue operations. Fire and Rescue Services personnel have already been instructed to station inflatable boats at identified floor prone areas. 

The government has also appointed nodal officers for inter-departmental teams at taluk levels.