Govt Asks Media Outlets to Take Abundant Precaution While Deploying Personnel to Cover Cyclone Biparjoy

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting asked media organizations, including TV channels, on Thursday to take “plentiful precautions” while deploying their staff to cover Typhoon Pebargui to ensure their safety. As of Thursday morning, Cyclone Pebarjoy was less than 200km off the coast of Gujarat, and its imminent landfall in the evening, along with expected heavy rains and storm surges, has led to the evacuation of 74,000 people living in vulnerable areas.

In an advisory report, the ministry said that media professionals, especially satellite channels, will participate in field coverage of the hurricane and other related incidents. “Given the potential impact of the hurricane, ground-level reports may pose serious risks to the safety and security of reporters, cameramen and other personnel deployed by private satellite television channels to report on this incident,” it said.

The warning said the government was “extremely concerned” that such ground reports could endanger the lives of deployed personnel. “From the perspective of the safety and security of various correspondents, photographers and others working in various media organizations, especially private TV channels, it is strongly advised that media organizations may take the necessary precautions and due diligence in the matter of publishing their employees in potentially affected areas and follow the precautions issued by the department,” she added. local.

The advisory report warned that “under no circumstances” should media organizations decide to deploy their staff “in a manner that could jeopardize the safety and security of media workers”.

(This story was not edited by the News18 staff and was published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)