Bhubaneswar, May 2 (). With the IMD predicting a low pressure area over the Bay of Bengal, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday asked the concerned authorities to be prepared to deal with any possible summer cyclone in the state.
Patnaik held a cyclone preparedness review meeting with senior officials of the concerned departments in view of the IMD’s prediction that a cyclonic storm is likely to form around May 6 due to the formation of depression in the atmosphere over the southeast Bay of Bengal. It will move into a low pressure area during the subsequent 48 hours.
While reviewing the situation, the Chief Minister directed the officers to remain alert. Recalling the cyclone Fani that devastated Odisha in May 2019, he asked the officials to make all preparations well in advance to face the possible summer cyclone.
Patnaik said that the Fani cyclone in May 2019 had caused a lot of damage in the state.
Describing every life as precious, the Chief Minister advised all the departments to always be prepared to deal with such natural calamities.
Various departments of Odisha government, NDRF, ODRAF and Fire Service have been asked to be prepared in advance with a plan to evacuate people living near the coast and in low-lying areas to cyclone shelters.
The Chief Minister has also advised the officials to stock essential medicines and equipment well in advance and prepare a plan to carry out rescue, rehabilitation and relief operations, if required.
Patnaik asked Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena to review the situation regularly, while Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Satyavrat Sahoo has been directed to closely monitor the situation and work in coordination with all concerned departments.
Jena said that all departments and collectors have been instructed to remain alert. About 1000 cyclone shelters have been kept ready. Besides this, schools and other shelters have also been identified.
Talking to media persons after the meeting, SRC Sahoo said that summer cyclones are always unpredictable. However, there is no need to panic as all measures are being taken to deal with any eventuality.
Several cyclones have formed in the Bay of Bengal in the past including Fani in 2019, Amphan in 2020 and Yas in 2021, he said. Already state level and district level control rooms have been set up in Odisha and the situation is being closely monitored. No cyclone forecast has been issued by the IMD so far, even though monitoring has been done.
Sahoo said that round the clock control rooms have been set up at district and state level. He said the collectors have been asked to appoint nodal officers for each panchayat and prepare village-wise evacuation plans.
The SRC informed that 17 teams of NDRF and 20 teams of ODRAF have been kept ready for possible cyclone.
SGK/ANM
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