Disaster agency evacuates a record 80,000 from vulnerable areas

Anticipating the impact of Gaja, the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) evacuated a record number of people (estimated at more than 80,000) from central and coastal districts to reduce the damage to public life and property.

Stating that the preparedness and mock drills has paid good results, Commissioner of Revenue Administration K Satyagopal told DT Next the decision to evacuate maximum people was taken as per the cyclone protocol revised in 2016. “Based on previous experiences, such as the 2015 floods and cyclone Vardah, more revisions were done this year as part of our cyclone preparedness strategy,” he said.

“We made sure various stakeholders like the National and State Disaster Response Forces, inter-zonal teams and first responders were on the field evacuating people before the cyclone hit the coast. All the officials were positioned in vulnerable areas when Gaja was at about 200 km from the coast,” Satyagopal said.

Sources in the secretariat said the Chief Minister had given a free hand to officials, who were asked to take decisions on the spot to ensure public safety. 

“A decision was taken in advance to cut power supply in coastal areas and to lure people into relief centres, where the distribution of food started early. Usually most of the people do not pay attention when asked to move into relief camps. But officials convinced them to reach camps in both Nagapattinam and Cuddalore districts,” the source added.