Chandrababu Naidu reviews Fani situation, calls Naveen Patnaik to offer help

Vijayawada: Unmindful of the election code in place, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday reviewed the situation in the state in the wake of Super Cyclone Fani progressing towards the coast.

He also dialled Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and offered help from Andhra Pradesh if there is any need. Fani is likely to landfall along Odisha coast and spell destruction in the neighbouring state.

Mr Naidu asked the officials to take utmost care of the cyclone affected region the north Andhra region especially Srikakulam.

He lambasted Election Commission for not exempting four coastal districts from the election code for which he wrote a letter on Wednesday.

Addressing officials, the Chief Minister asked them to take all precautionary steps to prevent both human and property loss during the period of cyclone landfall. He said as elections concluded there was no meaning in keeping silent during the hour crisis in the name of election code of conduct.

He said if necessary he would visit the cyclone affected regions in the state. He said he wrote a letter to Election commission seeking exemption from election code to monitor the situation during cyclones. He said there should be no gap between the election commission and the state governments.

The CM directed the officials to make available milk packets in cyclone prone areas. He said officials should be alert and ready with necessary equipment to restore normalcy in cyclone affected regions. He said there is no need to issue fresh GOs to take up relief measures during the cyclone.

The GOs issued during Titli cyclone are enough to carry out relief operations. He said people should not be inconvenienced at any cost. He advised the officials to arrange meals in schools in cyclone prone areas.

The Chief Minister said that the state government acted effectively during Titli cyclone using satellite services.

Power supply was restored in a record time by erecting nearly 40,000 electric poles. He advised the officials to procure saw machines to clear the roads in case of falling of trees. The CM said officials should gear up to meet the challenge and restore normalcy.