Odisha Braces For Cyclone ‘Dana’ With ‘Zero Casualty’ Target; Minister Shares Steps Taken

Bhubaneswar: With cyclonic storm ‘Dana’ likely to hit Odisha, the state government on Monday stepped up preparations to deal with any eventuality with a target to ensure ‘zero casualty.’

While Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi held a review meeting with senior officials to take stock of the arrangements being made to ensure the safety and security of people, the emerging situation is being constantly monitored by different departments and agencies concerned.

Deputy Chief Minister K V Singh Deo, who holds the Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment portfolio, virtually chaired a meeting on cyclone preparedness, response and relief, with Chief District Agriculture Officers (CDAOs). Control rooms are being set up at Krushi Bhavan in Bhubaneswar and in all districts, sources said.

Asserting that the state government is fully prepared to handle any situation due to cyclone ‘dana’, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari all the agencies concerned have been put in a state of readiness for the storm.

As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the cyclonic storm which is heading towards coast and likely to make landfall between Puri and West Bengal’s Sagar Island during night of October 24 and early morning of October 25.

Stating that necessary steps have been initiated, the Minister said warning has been issued to the districts and the emerging situation is being reviewed at regular intervals. The Minister also held a fresh review meeting with the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC), Director General of Fire Services, the additional DG of law and order and the secretaries of various departments.

The government will ensure that there is zero casualty, Pujari said, adding that people necessary arrangements have been made to evacuate people from vulnerable areas well in advance. All the necessary steps are being taken to ensure the safety and security of the people and the cyclone shelters have been kept ready, he said.

Urging people not to panic, the Minister said the government has decided to deploy ODRAF teams and initiate the evacuation process from the vulnerable areas.

The state government has already cancelled the leave of all officers and staff due to the impending cyclonic storm and asked them to remain alert at their headquarters.

District and concerned departments have been instructed to operate control rooms on a 24×7 basis. Cyclone shelters are being kept in readiness, while the provision of drinking water during and lighting arrangements are being done.

District collectors have been asked to remain prepared in their respective areas and keep continuous vigil of low-lying areas, dewatering wherever required, including urban areas, officials said.

According to SRC D K Singh, districts like Puri, Khurda, Ganjam, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Bhadrak and Balasore, are likely to receive the heavy to very heavy rainfall under the impact of the cyclone.

The state government has asked the collectors of coastal districts to ensure that fishermen do not venture into the sea off the coast of Odisha and adjoining north Bay of Bengal until further advice.

As heavy rainfall may trigger flash flood or waterlogging in low lying areas, landslides in vulnerable hilly areas, and damage to kutcha houses, the Odisha government directed the district collectors to identify people in vulnerable areas and to move them to safe locations.

The Collectors have been asked to inspect conditions of over 800 multi-purpose cyclone shelters to make them ready to take in people when required and to identify pregnant women with expected delivery within two weeks so that they can be moved to the nearest healthcare centres.