Oct 14, 2013 14:42 (IST)
Jaipal Reddy, Minister of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences:
- The severe cyclone was predicted exactly, the track, the intensity were predicted exactly. These predictions warn people.
- The 16-17 people who died were caught in post cyclone accidents, they didn't die during the cyclone.
- Nearly a million people were evacuated. Mostly in Odisha.
- In terms of the numbers involved in the evacuations, this is a world record. This is because we made strategic investments in our Met dept. Though it was only 750 cr.
- The ability of our Met department to accurately predict even rains has improved. It's a blessing for farmers.
- Our nation can congratulate itself. No other South Asian country has the kind of equipment we do. If we make more investments, we can be equal to the best in the world.
- I'd like to congratulate the staff, thank the Home Ministry. The state administrations did a very good job too