Khurda: Cyclone ‘Fani’ has forced the district administration to clamp a-five-day long sailing ban in Chilika Lake.
Khurda Collector Nirmal Chandra Mishra has informed that boat sailing has been banned in Chilika from Wednesday to Sunday May 5. Next announcement will be made according to the situation.
While Khurda district administration has so far convened three preparatory meetings — two in Khurda and one at circuit house in Bhubaneswar — to face the cyclone. Five teams of Fire services department operatives, each team comprising of five personnel, meanwhile have reached Khurda.
According to assistant district fire officer Sarat Chandra Mallick, four teams have been sent to Balugaon, Banapur, Tangi and Gangadharpur and one team has been retained at Khurda district headquarters. These teams will be stationed at local fire stations. Each team has two cutters and one watch light. The fire units at different parts of the district will also extend their help during any kind of adverse situations.
“Two Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams, one National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team, 300 civil defence personnel have been kept ready to face any eventualities,” he added.
Similarly, volunteers of Nehru Seva Kendra have been roped in and a team of ten volunteers have been stationed at each block. Since Fani is going to make its landfall somewhere in Puri district, Khurda and Bhubaneswar are likely to be highly affected.
Keeping this mind, the district administration has intensified its awareness campaign to make people alert about the do’s and don’ts during the time of cyclone. People living in thatched, asbestos and tile roofed houses and living under big trees will be evacuated to safer places.
The official also confirmed that necessary arrangements have already been made to ensure necessary facilities are available to the relocated men at government provided shelters.
PNN