Odisha: SRC alerts Collectors of 8 districts to undertaken preparedness for cyclone
Officers asked use satellite phones for uninterrupted communication
By Nalini Sahu
Bhubaneswar, May 5: In view of the possible cyclone over Bay of Bengal, Odisha Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Pradeep Kumar Jena on Thursday wrote to Collectors of 18 districts to undertake all preparedness measures in advance to reduce the impacts.
The letter were written to Collectors of Ganjam, Puri, Khurda, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada and Kandhamal districts.
The Collectors were directed to undertake the several exigencies measures immediately on a priority basis to meet with any kind of eventualities arising out of the possible cyclone.
“District emergency, operation centre and control rooms of other offices must operate round the clock with adequate manpower. Please see that all communication equipment like phone, fax, etc are in working condition. You may check the satellite phones provided and make test calls. Besides the satellite phone, digital mobile radio communication systems have been established in six coastal districts under the EWDS project. Please make use of those communication systems also,” the SRC said in the letter.
He also further directed the Collectors to identify all vulnerable people and shift them to safe shelters on priority basis.
The Collectors were asked to prepare a detailed evacuation plan for people living in kutcha houses or living near the coast or in low lying areas, other vulnerable persons including the old people, persons with disabilities (PwDs); women and children to designated geo-tagged shelter buildings.
“All cyclone and flood shelters should be immediately checked by local block development officers / tehsildars. They should check the water supply, functional toilet, generator, inflatable tower light, mechanical cutters and other equipment available in shelters. As the power supply is cut off during the peak period of the cyclone, all offices should make the backup power arrangement for that period. Generators available in the different offices, including health institutions should be immediately checked and adequate fuel stored. Regular IMD forecasts/ warnings may be watched. Please send a report of compliance on the above with detailed information on arrangements made in your district by 6.05.2022,” the SRC directed the Collectors in the letter.
As per the latest India Meteorological Department (IMD) bulletin, a cyclonic circulation has formed over South Andaman Sea and neighbourhood on May 4. Under its influence, a low pressure area is likely to be formed over the same region around May 6. It is very likely to move north-westwards and intensify gradually into a Depression during subsequent 48 hours.
