Odisha SRC Issues Contingency Plan For Heat Wave During Polls

Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) has issued a contingency plan for the districts to face the heat wave during the elections.

In a letter to district collectors, SRC Satyabrata Sahu has asked them to follow the heat wave management issued by Home Ministry. “Joint Secretary, NDMA, Ministry of Home Affairs, in a letter on March 6 had communicated to have effective heat wave management in the state. There may be extreme heat wave conditions which will pose challenge to conduct the elections. The IMD has issued seasonal outlook on temperature and rainfall for hot weather season from March to May. Maximum temperature is most likely to prevail in most parts of the state. You are requested to follow the IMD bulletin daily for appropriate actions,” the SRC said in the letter.

The SRC also told the collectors to take mitigation, preparedness and response measures. These measures involving multi-sectorial and multi-dimensional administrative approach must be followed.

Those include drinking water supply, temporary shelter, rescheduling of working hours, timing of schools and other educational institutions, medical emergency services and public health. Since rallies will be taken out during the election campaign, proactive measures need to be taken with the help of line departments, Sahu said.