Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government has conducted mock drills across the State on the disaster management.
The mock drills were held at the block, municipality and district levels by Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) to check the preparedness and response of the administrations to deal with the possible natural disaster.
The Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) had posted a dummy message on the twitter handle, mentioning that an ‘impending’ Cyclone ‘Sitrang’ is likely to cross north Odisha close to Dhamra as a very severe cyclonic storm with a maximum wind speed of 155 kmph.
“As part of cyclone preparedness SRC Odisha is organising physical mock drills across the state to rehearse our preparedness actions. Nothing to worry.
Happy that the dummy message has created a sense of an impending disaster. Y’day TTEx table top exercise was completed”, the SRC informed.
The mock drills were conducted with the participation of ODRAF and Fire Services personnel, block and municipality officials, PRI members, teachers, AWWS, Mission Shakti SHGs and students.
During the demonstrations, the disaster management teams showcased their alertness and swiftness with which they could act to save lives and prosperities of the people during disaster.
Earlier on Friday, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, while chairing the State-level disaster management committee meeting, asked the administration to remain prepared to deal with possible natural disasters as the period between June and October is crucial.
Stating that natural disasters strike Odisha every year during the five month period between June and October, the CM said, “We should be prepared keeping all these possibilities in mind and strengthen the response.”
The Chief Minister said that all emergency response systems, rescue and relief work preparations, drinking water system, health and animal care systems should be kept ready during the period.