Bhubaneswar: With the IMD’s prediction that severe cyclonic storm ‘Fani’ is likely to hit Odisha coast May 3, the state government has asked all the District Collectors to evacuate people from vulnerable areas to cyclone shelters or safer places.
Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Bishnupada Sethi has written to all the collectors in this regard, Tuesday.
All the six coastal districts and adjoining districts of Gajapati, Nayagarh, Khurda, Cuttack, Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj are likely to be affected by the cyclone and associated rainfall. Wind and rainfall activities under the impact of the cyclone may also be experienced in other districts, Sethi mentioned in his letter.
“Identifying the vulnerable people and shifting them to safe shelters is the first priority. For the purpose, people living in kutcha houses or living near the coast or in low-lying areas in the above coastal and adjoining districts must be evacuated and placed in multipurpose cyclone/ flood shelters and other safe shelters,” he wrote.
It may be necessary to evacuate people living in even two-storied buildings in the coastline to the nearby cyclone shelter since wind speed of 200 kmph associated with storm surge could be very fatal, he suggested.
The collectors were also asked to ensure availability of sufficient food stuff, drinking water, essential medicines among other things for the inmates of various institutions.
All cyclone and flood shelters should be immediately checked and made ready to house the people. Cooked food through free kitchen, safe drinking water, lighting, health and sanitation facilities must be arranged at the shelters, he added.
Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi briefed the Centre about preparedness of the state government. Padhi spoke to Cabinet Secretary PK Sinha over phone and the duo held a joint review of the situation.
Padhi told the media, “We have requested the Cabinet Secretary for deployment of helicopters for airdropping of relief materials. Besides, additional NDRF teams have also been sought from the Centre. The Cabinet Secretary has responded positively.”