Thiruvananthapuram International Airport to remain closed from 10 am to 6 pm tomorrow, as a measure to ensure the safety of airport operations in view of Cyclone Burevi, ANI quoted Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) District Collector, Navjot Khosa, as saying.

Tuticorin Airport, Tamil Nadu, will remain closed for operations till 12 pm December 4, as a precautionary measure.

In the wake of the cyclone, over 2000 relief camps have been opened as Kerala remains on high alert with heavy rains expected when cyclone Burevi makes landfall.

The district administration here has opened 217 relief camps and 15,840 people have been shifted there from disaster-prone areas.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reviewed the situation and asked people to exercise extreme caution till the storm passes.

Vijayan, who chaired a high level meeting with senior officials this evening, also informed Union Home Minister Amit Shah about the steps being taken by the state to face the situation.

Shah assured all assistance, Vijayantold reporters.

The IMD has predicted that the course of the storm will be through the border areas of Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam districts and the government, along with various departments and the Army, were ready to face the contingencies, he said.

Vijayan said at least 2,891 relief camps have been opened in various parts of the state and emergency centres have been opened at district-level and from adequate number of doctors to enough stock of medicines, were ready in the health sector to meet any emergency situation.

As many as 177 people living in plantation settlements in the hilly Ponmudi area, about 61 km from the capital city, have been shifted as a precautionary measure to two schools.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD), in its latest bulletin, has said Burevi may make its landfall in Kerala on December 4 and has issued red alert (heavy to very heavy rains of over 20 cm in 24 hours) and cyclone warning for south Tamil Nadu and south Kerala coasts.

The IMD has predicted that Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Idukki and Ernakulam districts would receive heavy rains and wind from December 3 to 5.

The Chief Minister, who met the media after a high-level meeting of the State Disaster Management Authority and other departments concerned, said telecom operators have been asked to set up a “communication on wheels” facility.

Police, Fire and Rescue forces along with the NDRF teams have been deployed in the event of any emergency situation.

One team each of NDRF personnel have been deployed to the districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam districts and two teams in Idukki district.

The Navy has been requested to station the vessels 30 nautical miles in the Arabian Sea and the Army and other paramilitary forces are also on standby,” Vijayan said.

A defence press release said the armed forces stationed at Thiruvananthapuram were all set to face cyclone Burevi.

“As Cyclone Burevi is expected to make landfall by Friday morning across the Southern Districts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the Armed Forces stationed at Thiruvanathapuram activated their assets for facing the potential hazard.

Senior Officers from various armed forces met the Officials of the State Government, today and analysed the situation,” the release said.

Twelve columns of soldiers each consisting of 25 Army personnel are ready at Pangode Military Station.

Mi-17 and Sarang helicopters and AN-32 aircraft are placed at Sulur Air Force Station, Coimbatore to face any emergencies.

Coast Guard Station, Vizhinjam deployed two ships and two boats.

Southern Air Command Headquarter at Akkulam and Air Force Station at Shangumugham are fully prepared to face any situation, the release said.

Naval and Coast Guard aircraft conducted sorties off the coasts of Thiruvananthapuram and Lakshadweep for overall surveillance and instructed fishermen to go back to the shore immediately.

The NDRF team, which had reached Kerala, has inspected the hilly regions and the coastal areas of Thiruvananthapuram.

A deep depression over southwest Bay of Bengal has intensified into a cyclonic storm ‘Burevi’ which is likely to hit south Kerala with the weatherman predicting heavy rainsand wind in the seven southern districts of the state from December 3 to 5.