Cyclone Yaas: Odisha To Evacuate People From Low-Lying Areas By Tomorrow Afternoon

Bhubaneswar: Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Pradeep Jena on Monday informed that 30 more NDRF teams will arrive in Odisha in the evening and these along with 10 additional ODRAF and 25 Fire Service teams would be deployed in coastal districts likely to be affected by cyclone Yaas. 

Briefing the media, Jena said that he had gone to the three coastal districts of Kendrapada, Balasore and Bhadrak districts on a two-day visit to review the cyclone preparedness undertaken by the district administrations.

He further said that 22 NDRF teams, more than 50 ODRAF teams and 175 Fire Service teams have been deployed in the vulnerable pockets of these districts.

“A total of 35 teams of tree-cutters of the Odisha Forest Development Corporation (OFDC) have also been sent to tackle the situation,” Jena said.

The SRC further said that the Works Department has formed 165 teams and the Rural Development Department has formed specialized engineering teams to assist the district administrations in the post-cyclone repair, reconstruction and restoration of roads, power lines, telecom and drinking water supply. Besides, the Water Resources Department has also formed more than 100 teams with necessary machinery like the JCB, tractors, trucks and cutters with adequate manpower.

Referring to the concern of the Chief Minister over the impact of the cyclonic storm on the lives of the people, Jena said that the following measures to be taken up on a priority basis.

—People living in kutcha house, thatched house and those living in low-lying areas and near the coast, where there is a strong possibility of tidal surge, will be shifted to cyclone shelters by the local administration, Panchayati Raj representatives and women self-help groups by Tuesday afternoon.

—All basic amenities like dry foods and cooked foods will be arranged at the cyclone shelters.

—Considering the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic, arrangements in the cyclone shelters will be made with strict adherence to COVID protocols. There will be adequate stock of hand sanitisers and masks in each shelter.

—Arrangements will be made for alternative water and power supply in each shelter.

The SRC also advised the people to take the following precautions during the cyclonic storm.

—People should not go out of their house to collect mango, coconut or jackfruits as there are instances of deaths of some people during the previous storms in the state.

—The parents and guardians are requested to restrain their young children not to move on their bicycles and bikes.

—For the safety of the people in the urban areas, high-mast lights in all urban localities will be brought down.

—The advertising agencies have been told to remove the hoardings, billboards and display boards by May 24 failing which they will be forcibly removed by the civic body authorities.

—The trading and business establishments are requested to remove their boards before the onset of the cyclonic storm.

—The authorities of the Notified Area Council (NAC) and the village panchayats are requested to disassemble the streetlights by today or tentatively by tomorrow morning.