New Delhi:
As Cyclone Aila hit coastal areas of West Bengal and Orissa, the Centre has said it has fully mobilised the disaster relief mechanism and sent around 1,000 personnel of the National Disaster Response Force to deal with the crisis.
"We have fully mobilised the disaster relief mechanism. Nearly 400 personnel of the NDRF have been mobilised. 76 boats and rescue materials are ready. An equal number of NDRF personnel is also being moved," Union Home Minister P Chidambaram told reporters in New Delhi.
The Home Minister said around 200 personnel of the riverine units of BSF, based in Sundarbans (West Bengal), have been already rushed for rescue.
Some of the forces have already reached the spot to help the local authorities in rescue operations while some of them will reach tomorrow morning with boats.
"NDRF and BSF officials are in constant touch with relief commissioners of West Bengal. So, we are very prepared and ready to meet any situation," he said.
Life was thrown out of gear in several parts of coastal West Bengal and Orissa due to heavy rains accompanied by high-velocity wind today under the impact of a cyclonic storm in Bay of Bengal.