Kolkata
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has put on alert its employees and disaster management teams in view of the formation of cyclonic storm Asani, which is likely to intensify further into a severe cyclone, mayor Firhad Hakim said on Sunday. He said the leaves of all employees concerned are being cancelled to deal with any emergency evolving due to the cyclone, which he said is unlikely to hit the city but will bring heavy rains in its wake. “We are, however, making preparations to deal with any eventuality if the cyclone hits the city so that life is brought back to normal as soon as possible,” Hakim told reporters here. He said that taking lessons from the devastating effects of Amphan super cyclone in May 2020, the KMC administration is taking all measures such as keeping cranes, electric saws and earthmovers on standby to clear blockades caused by fallen trees and other debris. “We did not understand what the effect of Amphan could really be, but having learnt from our experience we are keeping everything ready,” he said. Amphan had uprooted hundreds of trees in the city, blocking thoroughfares and snapping power supply for days in some areas. Hakim said a control room of the KMC will be operational during the movement of Asani.
