Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi Thanks Centre For Help In Facing Cyclone Nivar: Report

Kiran Bedi, lieutenant governor (LG) of Puducherry, wrote to President Ram Nath Kovind, thanking the centre for supporting the union territory’s administration in its preparation to face cyclonic storm Nivar. LG Bedi’s letter “expressed gratitude” to the central government for “handholding” the Government of Puducherry in mitigating the impact of the severe cyclonic storm.

Also Read: 10 Things To Know About Cyclone Nivar Likely To Hit Tamil Nadu Coast On Wednesday

Bedi’s letter, cited by ANI, read, "In line with the guidelines of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) the agencies of the administration came together to take all precautions and preventive actions of evacuating people from coastal and low-lying areas, securing fishing boats to safety, establishing safe shelter homes duly ensuring COVID safety norms, pruning of trees and securing electric lines/structures."

Earlier, Bedi also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah via Twitter for “strengthening” the union territory’s administration and helping in “restoring normalcy” in Puducherry.

Thanking people of Puducherry. To all who played their roles in ensuring safety of life and property.
While people trusted the administration,public officials worked as one large family with utmost vigil.
Thank GOI for strengthening us in restoring normalcy. @PMOIndia @AmitShah pic.twitter.com/kGrDfGZ6s7

— Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) November 26, 2020

What You Should Know: 

• Kiran Bedi, lieutenant governor (LG) of Puducherry, wrote to President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday, November 26. 
• She thanked the centre for supporting the union territory’s administration in its preparation to face cyclone Nivar.
• Reportedly, there has been zero loss of life in Puducherry due to Cyclone Nivar. 

Also Read: Kiran Bedi Sides With Cops in the Tis Hazari Lawyers Versus Police Clash

Despite Cyclone Nivar making a “landfall in proximity to Puducherry at Marakkanam of Tamil Nadu situated at a distance of just 34 km to the north of Puducherry," there was zero loss of life in Puducherry. In an interview with India Today, Bedi elaborated upon how the Puducherry administration minimised Cyclone Nivar’s damage, “I think the Covid-19 pandemic did the trick. We had the infrastructure ready. We just replaced Covid with the cyclone. But we didn't stop Covid work. We tested people for the coronavirus in relief camps.” Besides the Government of India, Bedi also thanked organisations like anganwadis and the Red Cross for their assistance. “The use of technology was a great help. We had WhatsApp groups. We were just one message away,” she added.

So far, Cyclone Nivar has killed three people and injured three others in Tamil Nadu. It has also uprooted over 1,000 trees and resulted in water-logging in many low-lying areas in the state.

Image Credit: Can India

Tarini Gandhiok is an intern with SheThePeople.TV.