Bhubaneswar: The low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal is likely to gradually intensify into a cyclone, and the state government has been put on alert. In this context, a high-level preparedness meeting was held at the SEOC conference hall in Rajiv Bhawan, chaired by Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari.
Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Rajesh Prabhakar Patil and senior officials attended the meeting, along with the Director of IMD, Bhubaneswar. The Collectors of the six potentially affected districts (Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur) also joined through video conferencing.
According to the weather department, the cyclone is most likely to make landfall on the coast of northern Andhra Pradesh. Under its influence, heavy rain will lash various districts of southern Odisha.
At the preparedness meeting, the minister said that if any meeting becomes necessary, officials should join from wherever they are, at their workplaces, instead of coming to headquarters. He advised forming a WhatsApp group at the district level and using it not just for reporting but also for updating any kind of problem or urgent information from the district.
Officials were asked to maintain regular and accurate communication with the media to avoid misinformation or miscommunication. He also asked them to treat people taking shelter in relief centres as guests, arranging proper health care, food, and milk and baby food for children, and to be extremely polite and sympathetic towards them.
To oversee cyclone response, relief, and management in the districts about to be affected, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has assigned 2 Deputy Chief Ministers and 6 Ministers to 8 key districts. The designated ministers will guide the respective district administrations and assist in cyclone management from October 27 to 29.
The decision has been taken to relocate people to safe places during the cyclone, speed up relief and rescue work, and maintain coordination with the district administrations. The state government has kept all emergency services on alert, with a “Zero Casualty” goal.
Heavy rain and strong winds are expected particularly in the districts of southern Odisha. Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur are likely to be the worst affected, and the other coastal districts may also receive rain. It has been decided to keep schools, colleges and Anganwadi centres closed in these 6 districts.
To deal with the possible disaster, leave of all district-level officials has been cancelled, and all officials have been told to stay at their headquarters. 24-hour control rooms have been opened. 24/7 control rooms are operational in all blocks, tahasils and urban areas, including the District Emergency Operation Centres. Toll-free numbers and special helpline numbers of the districts are available to the public.
People living in kutcha houses, slums and low-lying areas are being identified and shifted to safe cyclone shelters. Expectant mothers whose delivery dates are near are being identified and brought in advance to nearby hospitals, CHCs, PHCs and Maa Gruha. Special arrangements have also been made for the elderly, children and persons with disabilities.
Considering the possible cyclone over the Bay of Bengal and the risk of heavy to very heavy rain, 6 districts of southern Odisha (Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur) have been put on maximum alert. ODRAF and NDRF teams have been deployed extensively in these districts. In total, 27 ODRAF teams and 6 NDRF teams are stationed in these 6 districts.
Keeping the state government’s “Zero Casualty” goal in mind, cyclone shelters in the affected districts have been kept ready.
A complete ban on fishing in the sea has been imposed. Likewise, restrictions have been placed on the movement of tourists at hills, waterfalls, dams and tourist spots in these 6 districts of southern Odisha.
