Bhubaneswar: With IMD forecasting that Dhamra in Bhadrak district is likely to be one of the worst affected places in Odisha by Cyclone ‘Dana, Minister Suryabanshi Suraj on Thursday visited several places in the district to take stock of the arrangements for safety of people and properties.
The Minister of Higher Education, Sports and Youth Services, and Odia Language, Literature and Culture reviewed the cyclone preparedness measures in meetings with the officials.
The minister arrived at Dhamra on Wednesday and stayed there overnight. He held discussions with officials of Dhamra Port on various safety protocols in place to address the potential cyclone threat.
Suraj visited several cyclone shelters in Guasol, Dhira Sahi, Nachipur, Bijayapatna, Karuna Panchayat and Kuamara on Thursday. He reviewed the arrangements for public safety, food supplies, drinking water, medical facilities and sanitation.
He interacted with the people staying in the shelters and told them not to panic. He also assured them that the government would provide all necessary assistance and support to them.
Speaking to the media during his visit, the minister said, “We are fully prepared to handle the impact of cyclone ‘Dana’. With the chief minister calling for zero causality, public safety is our top priority.”
He also mentioned that due to high likelihood of the cyclone passing through the Dhamra region, its residents were being relocated to cyclone shelters on a priority basis.
The shelters are equipped with essential facilities including dry food stocks and cooked meals for the residents. Emergency medical services along with mobile teams of doctors and ASHA workers are monitoring the health conditions of those staying in the shelters.
He appealed to the people not to get panic and should adhere to the administrative guidelines. “Ensuring the safety and well-being of the people is our priority, he added.
