GUWAHATI, May 19 - In view of the forecast vis-�-vis super cyclonic storm Amphan, the State government has asked all the Deputy Commissioners, Commissioners of all the Divisions and the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) to ensure that the preventive and response team are put on high alert to avoid any loss of life and property.
�The State Disaster Response Force may be kept informed and their help be sought whenever necessary. The Chief Executive Officer of the ASDMA may like to consider putting a control room in place for this,� Chief Secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna stated in an order marked as �extremely urgent�.
Heavy showers have been forecasted for western districts of Assam and Meghalaya on May 21 due to impact of super cyclonic storm Amphan, which is likely to make a landfall over West Bengal by tomorrow.
�Heavy rains are likely to hit the western parts of Assam and Meghalaya by Thursday evening. In other parts including Guwahati, the weather would continue to remain cloudy,� informed Sanjay Shaw, Deputy Director General of Meteorology, Regional Metrological Centre while talking to The Assam Tribune.
�However, no alert has been issued in the State in view of the cyclone as yet,� Shaw said.
According to MET department, Amphan is likely cross West Bengal � Bangladesh coasts by tomorrow and its influence may be felt in Assam and Meghalaya subsequently.
Amphan which is the second super cyclone over the Bay of Bengal in two decades was also rated a Category 5 with maximum sustained winds of 165 miles per hour and gusts to 200 mph.
�In order to ensure that the storm does not leave any catastrophic impact, we have asked the DCs to identify the vulnerable locations and population and keep a track. We do not want to take any chances at this moment,� a senior Assam Government official said.