Odisha On Alert: Paradip Port Well Prepared For Cyclone Yaas

Paradip: The Paradip Port Trust (PPT) has stepped up operational measures to ensure zero casualties once the very severe cyclonic storm Yaas crosses the Paradip coast by noon of May 26.

No Movement of Ships

— The inward movement of ships has been disallowed from 10 pm of May 23. At present, the port is only allowing outward movement of ships. This is expected to be completed by 12 noon on Monday.

Personnel Evacuated

—All operations were stopped and all personnel on the port were moved out by Monday morning.

Move to Sea

—All vessels at Paradip anchorage have been asked to pick up anchor and move to sea.

Coastguard Vessels

—All Coastguard vessels and DCI Dredger XX inside the harbour have also been instructed to move out to sea. The DCI dredger Aquarius, DCI dredger XVIII, DCI dredger Ganga and both the OSL cutter dredgers in the north basin will be secured properly for extreme heavy weather.

Other Crafts & Tugs

—Other crafts and tugs will stay inside the harbour/ They will be manned round the clock to ensure proper moorings. The main engines will be kept ready for operation any time.

Equipment Secured

—Equipments and machineries at the under construction sites will be secured.

Unloaders & Loaders Fastened

—Unloaders at PPL and IFFCO berths are to be securely fastened.

Besides, the loaders at the berths of Mechanised Coal Handling Plant (MCHP), Iron Ore Handling Plant (lOHP), Jindal South West (JSW) and Essar Bulk Terminal Paradip Ltd (EBTPL), the harbour mobile cranes at all berths including the one for Paradip International Cargo Terminal (PICT), will also be secured.

Port Area & Periphery

Apart from operations on the port, PPT has also taken the following measures in the port area and its periphery.

Drains Cleared

—The drains in the locality have been cleared on a war footing in order to avoid any possible water-logging.

Road Clearance

—Four teams of PPT with chain saws and payloader are ready to function round the clock during the cyclone to clear the roads due to possible uprooting of trees.

Control Room

—A control room will function round the clock at Gate No-4 till the cyclone passes and normalcy is restored.

Medical Emergencies

—Dedicated medical team along with ambulance vans will be deployed to tackle medical emergencies.

Cyclone Shelters

—Five cyclone shelters have been activated. These can accomodate around 2,000 people from local slums and low-lying areas with proper social distancing norms.

They will be provided with dry rations, cooked food, drinking water, face masks and sanitizers.

The cyclone shelters are also equipped with the gensets for uninterrupted power supply.

Also Read: Cyclone Yaas: Odisha Deputes Five Officials To Mobitor Relief & Restoration In Coastal Districts