Cyclone Murasu: 724 medical teams, 4,628 emergency beds readied across 13 districts

The Health, Medical and Family Welfare Department has put in place extensive medical arrangements across 13 districts expected to be affected by Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu, according to a release issued on Monday, November 2. A total of 724 medical teams, 4,628 emergency beds and 205 relief camps have been kept ready to respond to any eventuality.

Of the 866 government hospitals in the State, 398 have been identified as being located in cyclone-prone areas. These facilities will serve as the first line of emergency medical care if the storm causes damage or disruption.

To ensure that emergency medical services remain available, 359 ambulances operating under the 108 service, 128 Thalli Bidda Express vehicles under the 102 service and 320 mobile medical units under the 104 service have been made available. Around 300 private ambulances have also been linked to the Real Time Governance Society (RTGS) portal, alongside the government fleet. Officials said the integration is expected to facilitate the prompt delivery of emergency medical services and ensure that ambulances are deployed efficiently to the areas where they are most needed.

Pregnant women have been identified as a priority group. Officials have listed 3,066 women whose expected delivery dates fall between November 1 and 10. Of them, 1,103 have already been shifted to nearby hospitals, and arrangements are being made to relocate the remaining women in advance wherever necessary. Delivery facilities are being arranged at government and private hospitals close to the women's residences, so that they do not have to travel long distances during the storm.

Preparations have also been made at 121 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Urban Primary Health Centres (UPHCs) in coastal areas. As many as 15,161 anti-snake venom injections have been stocked to treat snakebite cases, a known risk in the aftermath of cyclones when floodwaters and debris displace reptiles.

Recognising that power supply often fails during severe weather, generators and alternative power supply facilities have been made available at 848 hospitals. This is intended to keep essential services, including emergency care and the storage of medicines and vaccines, running without interruption.

Sanitation measures have been taken to prevent the spread of waterborne, mosquito-borne and foodborne diseases, which typically rise after heavy rain and flooding. Chlorine tablets have been stocked for water purification, and health teams will monitor for outbreaks in the affected districts.

The department's release sets out the scale of the preparations but does not specify how long the alert is expected to remain in force. Residents in the listed districts have been advised to make use of the ambulance and medical helpline numbers and to follow instructions issued by local authorities. The arrangements are precautionary in nature and are intended to ensure that medical assistance is available quickly should the cyclone cause disruption.

Cyclone preparedness planning of this kind typically involves coordination between health, disaster management and civic agencies, with the aim of minimising loss of life and ensuring that vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, the elderly and those in remote coastal areas, can reach care in time.