Odisha Fully Prepared to Deal with Possible Summer Cyclones: Revenue Minister

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government is fully prepared to deal with possible summer cyclones, informed Revenue & Disaster Management Minister Pramila Mallik on Wednesday.

Briefing the media about measures to be taken to face the possible summer cyclones, the Minister said that 24×7 Control Rooms will start functioning in the department and districts from May 1.

Mallik said that a Class I officer will be in-charge of the Control Room. Like every year on June 18 and 19 Table Top Exercise and Mock Drill will be conducted in all district headquarters, flood/cyclone centres and block level. 317 fire stations have been provided with necessary equipment and trained manpower to carry out search and rescue operations. These personnel will be deployed ahead of the cyclone at vulnerable places, the Minister added.

She further said that 342 regional Fire Service teams in the State are ready to deal with any emergency situation.
Besides, 17 teams of the NDRF’s 3rd Battalion are in preparedness for search and rescue operations, she said adding that 16 teams are stationed at Mundali and one is stationed at Balasore. The NDRF teams are functioning in coordination with OSDMA and Special Relief Commissioner (SRC), the Minister added.

The district Collectors have been asked to instruct BDOs and Tahasildars to provide fuel to the vehicles used by NDRF teams in affected areas. As many as 879 multipurpose cyclone/flood shelters are being used to shelter evacuees ahead of potential cyclones, the Minister added.

Special Relief Commissioner Satyabrat Sahu informed that Department of Rural Development, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Urban Development, Department of Panchayati Raj and Department of Drinking Water will ensure their disaster management plans. The departments will make arrangements for advance deployment of necessary manpower and equipment before the cyclone, he said.