Has DoT Established a 24/7 Control Room to Secure Telecom Links Amid Cyclone Ditwah Threat?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- 24/7 Control Room established by DoT for telecom resilience.
- Coordination with service providers for uninterrupted service.
- Yellow alerts issued across multiple districts.
- Rainfall and damage to agriculture reported in affected areas.
- Emergency response teams mobilized for relief efforts.
New Delhi, Nov 30 (NationPress) The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has implemented comprehensive preparedness strategies, including establishing a 24/7 Control Room to safeguard telecom network integrity in light of Cyclone Ditwah over the Bay of Bengal, which is expected to impact coastal Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
The DoT control room will work in conjunction with service providers to ensure a swift response through district administrations and the State Disaster Management Authority. All telecom service providers have been directed to maintain uninterrupted network operations, ensure sufficient fuel supplies, prepare emergency power backups, and position field response teams in at-risk districts, as stated in an official announcement made on Sunday.
In line with the Standard Operating Procedure, the DoT has confirmed the successful completion of Intra Circle Roaming and Cell Broadcast testing across all networks to ensure communication continuity and early alerts during emergencies. The DoT is actively monitoring the situation via its control room and consistent updates from TSPs to guarantee unbroken connectivity during and after the cyclone, the statement added.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for various districts across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Andhra Pradesh, warning of light to moderate rainfall, thunderstorms, and lightning as Cyclone Ditwah continues to affect weather patterns along the eastern coast of the country.
Regrettably, three individuals have lost their lives in rain-related incidents linked to Cyclone Ditwah in Tamil Nadu, with 149 cattle casualties and 57,000 hectares of agricultural land affected in the delta regions.
The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) anticipates that heavy rainfall will primarily impact northern Tamil Nadu on Sunday, with rain and surface winds expected to gradually subside starting Monday. The cyclone has caused torrential rains that have severely impacted numerous south coastal and delta districts in Tamil Nadu since Friday night, resulting in flooding in various villages, destruction of crops, and inundation of salt pans.
In Andhra Pradesh, the IMD has issued a yellow alert for Nellore, Chittoor, and Tirupati districts, as Cyclone Ditwah poses the risk of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall and strong winds across the state. The AP state disaster management authority and NDRF have mobilized teams for relief and rescue efforts.