Andhra Pradesh: Oxygen supplies readied as Yaas Cyclone nears coast

VISAKHAPATNAM: The three north-coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh are bracing to face the severe cyclonic storm Yaas, which is expected to cross the coasts of north Odisha and West Bengal between Paradip and Sagar Island, north of Dhamra and south of Balasore on noon of May 26. The India Meteorological Department has predicted that the weather system would further intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm in the early hours of Wednesday.
Even though north-coastal AP region may not witness a major impact from the cyclone, Met officials say that gusty winds and rain bands from the storm would extend to Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts. Sea conditions are likely to become phenomenal along and off north-coastal Andhra Pradesh from the early hours of Wednesday.
According to officials of Srikakulam district, existing oxygen supplies would last at least three to four days, even if there is any obstruction in the oxygen supply chain to the hospitals that are treating Covid-19 patients. Four NDRF teams have been deployed in the Ichchapuram border area, which may receive a major blow from the cyclone.
Diesel generator sets have been kept ready in all hospitals in the region to ensure no disruption in oxygen supply to Covid-19 patients.
Chief secretary Adityanath Das is camping in Srikakulam district to monitor the situation at the field-level, particularly in view of the ongoing second wave of Covid-19 and the logistics involved in oxygen supply during the cyclone. He has already conducted a review meeting with district officials.
Earlier, chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy held a review meeting with the collectors of three north-coastal districts on their preparedness for the cyclone.
Principal secretary, health and family welfare, Anil Kumar Singhal, said Andhra Pradesh has procured additional stocks of liquid medical oxygen over and above its daily quota in the last three to four days for Covid-19 treatment in view of the cyclone. “So it would not affect the treatment even if there is any delay in transportation, dispatching or storage,” said Singhal
Head, Cyclone Warning Centre, Visakhapatnam, M Sunanda, said squally winds reaching a speed of 50-60 kmph and gusting 70 kmph, would prevail over Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts from the early hours of Wednesday. “Fishermen are advised to not venture into the sea,” said Sunanda.
Distant warning signal No. 2 has been kept hoisted at Visakhapatnam, Machilipatnam, Nizampatnam and Krishnapatnam ports.