Mail News Service
Jamshedpur, May 2: East Singhbhum has taken up preventive measures and issued high alert to prevent causalities due to the severe cyclone �Fani� touching Odisha tomorrow. The district shares its border with West Bengal and Odisha.
�As per the instructions of the deputy commissioner East Singhbhum Amit Kumar we have ordered all state-owned and private schools to be shut for two days (May 3 and 4) in view of the alert issued by Met department,� said East Singhbhum district superintendent of education, Brijmohan Kumar.
Similarly, schools in West Singhbhum which also shares it border with Odisha has been directed for closure on May 3 and 4.
Meanwhile, a 30-member team from National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) from Ranchi reached steel city this afternoon.
�We have contacted NDRF for any emergency during the severe cyclonic storm which is likely to see thunderstorm and heavy rains. They will be deployed in the district headquarter and sent to areas based on requirement from the respective blocks of the district. Community shelter houses have been prepared in panchayat buildings in different blocks for accommodating villagers,� said East Singhbhum DC Amit Kumar.
The administration has also set up an emergency helpline number 0657-2440111 for anyone affected by cyclone. The civil defence and Red Cross personnel have also been asked to be prepared for relief service.
Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee (JNAC) which looks after civic amenities in Jamshedpur also held organised a meeting in view of the cyclone alert to identify and prepare community shelters in different low-lying areas in city and outskirt.
� We are ready to face the situation. We have identified community shelters near low lying areas which would have relief materials, foods, lights and drinking water arrangements. Public announcements would be made from Thursday evening in low-lying areas,� said JNAC special officer Krishna Kumar.
Meanwhile, all private and government schools in the district have declared holidays. �The school campus will be taken over by the district administration for election and handed back to us on May 13 after the polls on May 12. Following the district administration order due to the cyclone we had to close till Saturday and Sunday being a holiday there was no point in holding classes for only a day and we decided to pre-pone the vacations. The school will now reopen after vacations on June 17,� said Sakchi-based Rajendra Vidyalaya principal Rakhi Banerjee.