Bhubaneswar: With cyclone Murasu taking shape, the Odisha government has stepped up its preparedness for the approaching storm and chalked out a plan for evacuation of people from vulnerable areas.
While a high-level review meeting chaired by Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari discussed precautionary measures on Saturday, the government is constantly monitoring the movement of the cyclonic system.
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Anu Garg, Department Secretary Arabinda Padhee, Special Relief Commissioner Prabhakar Patil, Fire Services DG Sudhanshu Sarangi, ADG (Law and Order) Sanjay Kumar and senior officials of the Water Resources Department.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), cyclone Murasu is likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm on November 2 and make cross Andhra Pradesh costs on November 3.
While the cyclone is set to hit Andhra coast, several districts in Odisha are expected to be lashed by another spell of heavy to very heavy rain under its impact.
The government is also focusing on people living in vulnerable areas, particularly those at risk from landslides. Cyclone Arnab had caused significant damage in Gajapati and Kandhamala districts due to landslides. Residents in vulnerable locations will be moved to safer places if required.
Pujari said the administration was prepared to begin evacuation based on local assessments.
“We will start evacuating people. Those whom the district administration identifies as living in vulnerable conditions will be persuaded to relocate to safer places. Advance preparations have been completed by the district collectors,” he said.
With the possibility of heavy rainfall on November 2 and 3 posing a fresh threat of floods and waterlogging, the district administration of Ganjam has intensified precautionary measures, directing officials to evacuate all people living in vulnerable areas to safe shelters by Sunday night.
At an emergency preparedness meeting held at the OSWAN Conference Hall in Chatrapur on Saturday, Collector V. Keerthi Vasan instructed Block Development Officers (BDOs) and Tahsildars to identify vulnerable locations, prepare detailed contingency plans and ensure that not a single person remains in a risk-prone area.
The Collector directed officials to maintain adequate stocks of ration, cooked food, drinking water, medicines and other essential supplies in flood-prone villages and Gram Panchayats. Generators should also be kept ready to meet emergency requirements. Public awareness and advance warnings should be disseminated in every village through loudspeakers.
Emphasising that no one should go hungry, he asked officials to distribute food and relief materials generously. “Every life is precious,” he said, calling upon the officials to work round the clock with dedication and commitment.
Special arrangements were ordered for the immediate evacuation of pregnant women and other vulnerable people. Adequate medical teams, health workers and medicines should be kept ready to tackle possible outbreaks of diarrhoea, snakebites and other health emergencies, particularly as drinking water sources could get contaminated due to flooding.
The Collector appealed to fishermen not to venture into the sea from November 2 to 4 or during adverse weather conditions. NDRF and ODRAF teams will be deployed in vulnerable locations as required. The Animal Resources Department was also directed to ensure sufficient fodder and food supplies for livestock.
Expressing concern over the hardships already faced by people due to the recent floods, the Collector asked officials to treat affected families with the respect, sensitivity and warmth extended to guests. He warned that negligence in relief and emergency response duties would invite strict action.
He further directed BDOs to immediately communicate any requirements at the block and Gram Panchayat levels to the district administration.
Additional District Magistrates Sachidananda Nayak, Debadatta Panda and Sunil Kerketta, Berhampur Sub-Collector Abinash Kumar and IAS probationer S. Sharanya attended the meeting. Officials of various departments, BDOs and Tahsildars participated through video conferencing.
Meanwhile, the district administration issued an urgent public advisory asking residents of riverbanks, low-lying areas and other vulnerable locations to remain alert and move to safe shelters as directed. People have also been advised to stock essential supplies, avoid crossing flooded roads and rivers, and follow only official weather updates.