Odisha

Only One Dist In Odisha Prone To Landslides, 14 At Risk Of Earthquake: Suresh Pujari

By
OB Bureau

Bhubaneswar: Gajapati is the only landslide-prone district in Odisha, Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari told the House on Thursday.

Replying to a query by Lakshmipur MLA Pabitra Saunta, Pujari said 129 places highly susceptible to landslides have been identified in the southern district. “To reduce landslide incidents, coordination meetings are being regularly held between various departments, IMD and Coimbatore-based Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham’s World Centre of Excellence on Landslide. An agreement has also been signed between the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) and Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham to undertake a survey in the district,” he said.

Notably, severe cyclone Titli in October 2018 had triggered massive landslides in Gajapati, resulting in the destruction of 20 villages and loss of over 4o lives. A single landslide killed 12 people, including five children, who had sought refuge in a cave on a mountain at Barghara village in the district. Substantial damage to houses also led to the displacement of around 9,100 families.

Earlier this year, a team of seven experts from Coimbatore-based centre visited Gajapati district to conduct a comprehensive study on the causes of landslides and potential mitigation measures, including setting up a user-friendly landslide early warning system (EWS).

Pujari further informed about State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), which is working towards disaster management and early weather forecast in Odisha.

Replying to another question by the Congress legislator, the Minister said that 14 districts in the state are at risk of earthquake. These districts – Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Puri, Khurda, Cuttack, Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Angul, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Bargarh, Balasore and Mayurbhanj – fall under moderately seismic-prone areas (zone III), he added.

OB Bureau

Recent Posts

New Artist To Play King Kansa Role During Dhanu Yatra In Odisha’s Bargarh

Bargarh: A new artist will be selected to play the mythological character King Kansa during…

November 22, 2024

Shah Rukh’s Daughter Suhana Khan Brutally Trolled For Vivo Ad [Watch]

Mumbai: Suhana Khan will be making her Bollywood debut with ‘King’ along with her superstar…

November 22, 2024

Badshah Comes Out In Support Of Diljit Dosanjh In Alcohol Controversy

New Delhi: After Diljit Dosanjh called out the double standards of Telangana government for banning…

November 22, 2024

World War 3 Has Begun, Says Ukraine’s Former Military Chief

New Delhi: Recent actions and counter-actions in the Russia-Ukraine conflict have pushed the world to the…

November 22, 2024

3 Arrested With Fake IPS Officers’ Uniforms, Identity Cards In Odisha’s Balangir

Balangir: Three persons were arrested and fake IPS officers’ uniforms along with fake identity cards…

November 22, 2024

‘I Want To Talk’: Twitterati Lauds Abhishek Bachchan, Say He Is Better Than Amitabh

Mumbai: Abhishek Bachchan’s highly-anticipated film ‘I Want To Talk’ released in theatres on Friday, and the…

November 22, 2024

Cash-For-Vote Row: BJP Leader’s Defamation Notice Against Rahul Gandhi, Kharge

New Delhi: Accused of giving cash to secure votes ahead of election day in Maharashtra,…

November 22, 2024

CM Mohan Majhi Attends ‘Odisha State Day’ Celebrations At IITF In Delhi

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi attended the ‘Odisha State Day Celebrations’ at the 43rd…

November 22, 2024