Bhubaneswar: With mercury soaring to 35 degree Celsius and more at 15 places in the last two days, the Odisha government has begun preparations to tackle heatwave conditions in months ahead.
Thought the hottest place in Odisha for the second consecutive day, Bhubaneswar saw a slight drop in the mercury levels in the last 24 hours. The city recorded 36.4 degree Celsius against 37 degree Celsius the previous day.
Western Odisha towns of Titilagarh and Bhawanipatna recorded second highest maximum temperature of 36 degree Celsius followed by Chandbali and Bhadrak at 35.8 degree Celsius each, Jharsuguda at 35.6 degree Celsius, Sonepur and Boudh at 35.5 degree Celsius each, Nayagarh and Balangir at 35.4 degree Celsius each and Dhenkanal at 35.2 degree Celsius.
Cuttack, Angul, Malkangiri and Talcher recorded 35 degree Celsius, according to Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre.
Also Read: Bhubaneswar Hottest In Odisha For 2nd Day; Hot & Humid Weather May Prevail Till Tomorrow
In the letter to all district collectors, Special Relief Commissioner Satyabrata Sahu requested them to take immediate steps to put in place all preparedness and precautionary measures at different levels in their respective districts to meet the possible heatwave situation.
“A Heat Wave Action Plan will be developed by OSDMA delineating the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for different departments, district administrations and others to mitigate the heatwave situations,” he further said while elaborating on the checklist.
SALIENT MEASURES
>> Awareness campaigns may be taken up immediately to make the people aware about the risks associated with heatwave, identifying the risk, “Do’s and Don’ts” to protect the human being and livestock from the said risks and what to do if someone is affected.
>> The district administration is required to take advance steps to identify the water scarcity pockets (village/ hamlet/ ward wise) and prepare action plan for ensuring supply of water for drinking and other uses through tanker to”those areas. Reports of water scarcity are to be responded to immediately.
>> Necessary arrangements may be put in place for attending to the complaints on functioning of tubewells and piped water supply systems.
>> Water Resources department will take steps to release water through canals from reservoirs depending on requirement.
>> Paniya Jala Seva Kendras (drinking water kiosks) are required to be opened by Urban Local Bodies/Gram Panchayats at market places, bus stands and other congregation points.
>> Urban shelters, community buildings and other public buildings in rural and urban areas may be used as day time shelters for homeless/needy people for their rest during day time. Separate arrangements for men and women may be made as far as possible. Safe drinking water and ORS sachets for the people may be arranged in the shelters.
>> Construction/repair of shallow vats may also be ensured for roaming livestock.
>> In schools, colleges and other academic/technical institutions, extra care has to be taken to ensure availability of drinking water. Wherever required, tubewells inside the school campus may be repaired to ensure uninterrupted drinking water supply. Sufficient ORS are also to be kept in schools, colleges and provided to students/staff requiring the same. Outdoor activities have to be restricted so as the students not to be exposed to heat wave condition.
>> All the parents should be sensitised to ensure that their children carry a water bottle while going to school/ college.
>> Schools may also be advised to allocate some time during school hours to give heat wave precautionary tips to the students. 1
>> Anganwadi centres may remain open in morning hours only. Availability of portable water in all AWCs must be checked and ensured. Sufficient ORS packets should also be available with ASHA and AWWs.
>> Sufficient lifesaving medicines, saline, ORS may be stored in dispensaries, PHCs, CHCs and subdivision/district headquarters hospitals to meet the requirement. Special arrangement may be made and separate wards/beds be earmarked for treatment of heat stroke patients in different hospitals. The ESI dispensaries may be directed to treat the general public.
>> Public transport vehicles must carry sufficient portable water and ORS packets to be provided to passengers/staff requiring the same. During severe heatwave condition, timings of non-air-conditioned public transport services may have to be rescheduled avoiding their plying during peak hours of heatwave. However, while doing so, inconvenience likely to be caused to long route passengers must be kept in mind.
>> The timing for engagement of labourers/workmen at worksites may be rescheduled. No work should be executed in peak hours during heat wave period. The employers must make necessary arrangements for supply of drinking water, ORS packets and provision of rest shed at the worksite.
>> The Energy Department will issue instructions to the distribution companies to maintain uninterrupted power supply during summer months. In case, load-shedding is absolutely necessary in some areas, the schedule must be announced for information of consumers sufficiently in advance.
>> Awareness raising measures may be taken up on the concept of cool roof technology – white painting of roofs to reduce the indoor atmospheric temperature. 1
>> The control rooms at the state-level and district-level shall function round the clock during the period of heatwave. The heatwave warnings issued by IMD should be tracked on regular basis and if necessary, Control Room of IMD/ State EOC may be contacted for such information.
>> Members of Panchayati Raj Institutions in the district may be sensitized and impressed upon to monitor the heatwave mitigation measures in their areas and observance of heat wave safety protocols by the people.
>> The Collector may depute senior Officers to verify and ensure necessary arrangements in medical institutions, schools, colleges, Anganwadi centres
>> Efforts should be made to see that no human casualty occurs due to heat wave. However, if any information on casualty is received or news report published in media, it should be immediately enquired into and the veracity of such reports should be promptly reported to this office.
>> Where reports regarding death of a person due to sunstroke either at work place or any other area is received, the Collector should arrange to conduct immediate joint enquiry of the case by the local Revenue Officer like Tehlsidar or Additional Tehsildar (in rural areas) or any other Revenue Officer in Urban areas (authorised by concerned Sub-Collector) and the local Medical Officer (to be nominated by the CDMO/ SDMO). The joint enquiry report with countersignature of collector should reach this office within 48 hours of the reported death.
>> Where, upon enquiry, the death is confirmed to have occurred due to sunstroke, immediate steps shall be taken to process the case in DAMPS for sanction and payment of ex-gratia to the bereaved family.
