Relief, Rescue Operations In Cyclone-Hit Districts Underway: SRC

Bhubaneswar: Two days after the very severe cyclonic storm Titli wreaked havoc in the Ganjam, Gajapati and Rayagada districts, the Odisha government on Saturday intensified relief and rescue operations.

Talking to mediapersons here, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Bishnupada Sethi, said the state government has engaged two helicopters of the Indian Navy in the relief and rescue operations in Aska and Purushottampur blocks in Ganjam district. Besides, one more helicopter is on the way from Vishakhapatnam. It will be engaged for relief and rescue operations in Gajapati district.

He said the Fisheries and Animal Resources Department had made specific arrangements for distribution of cattle feed and fodder in the affected districts. While 200 metric tonnes of cattle feed and fodder has been sent to Ganjam district, 100 metric tonne has been sent to Gajapati.

He further said that the 10 senior officers, who have been asked by the state government to visit the Gajapati district, are on the way.

The SRC also informed that the Fire Services personnel have done a commendable job. “They have cleared the Kashinagar-Gunupur, Palasa- Paralakhemundi, Mohana- R. Udayagiri, Mohana-Raigada and Nuagada-Khajuripada roads after removing big trees. Besides, they have also taken up the repair of the approach road to the bridges at several places, which were damaged by the cyclone and heavy rain. This apart, 150 Fire Services personnel who had arrived in Aska yesterday with 20 power boats and 100 Aska emergency lights, have expedited relief and rescue operations,” he added.

Giving details of the deployment of NDRF and ODRAF personnel, Sethi said 78 NDRF and 101 ODRAF personnel in Ganjam, 46 NDRF and 34 ODRAF personnel in Gajapati and 37 ODRAF personnel in Rayagada districts have been engaged in relief and rescue operations. Besides, 461 and 164 Fire Services personnel have been engaged for duty in Ganjam and Gajapati districts respectively.

Apart from this, a contingent of the Odisha Forest Development Corporation (OFDC) personnel sent to Gajapati district has cleared five km of the road from Sundhipadi to Paralakhemundi.

Stating that telecommunication in Gajapati district is yet to be restored, he said the state government has taken up the matter with the Centre and senior BSNL officials for immediate restoration of mobile network in the district. “We hope that the BSNL authorities will restore the network very soon,” he pointed out.