CM Majhi deputes deputy CMs, ministers to 8 districts as South Odisha braces for cyclone
BHUBANESWAR: With the impending cyclone expected to trigger extremely heavy rains and gusty winds in Odisha, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has deputed the two deputy chief ministers and ministers to eight vulnerable districts, where they will remain stationed from Tuesday to Thursday.People staying in kutcha houses, thatched huts and low-lying areas are being identified and shifted to safe cyclone shelters. Pregnant women are also being relocated in advance to nearby community health centres, primary health centres and hospitals. Special arrangements have been put in place for senior citizens, children and persons with disabilities (PwDs) too,” they added.
The Agriculture department has advised farmers to harvest and safely store crops (paddy, maize, ragi and others) which have achieved 80 per cent to 85 pc maturity. Dedicated agricultural helpline numbers have also been opened to provide assistance to farmers.Officials said comprehensive measures have been taken to handle any exigency. Leaves of all district-level officials and staff have been cancelled. They have been directed to remain stationed at their respective headquarters until the adverse weather condition improves.
The 24/7 control rooms, including district emergency operation centres, block, tehsil and ULB units have been made operational and dedicated helpline numbers and toll-free services made available for the public, they added.Around 30 teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) have been deployed in these five districts to handle any emergency arising due to the storm.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday said the cyclone is likely to make landfall with maximum sustained wind speed of 115 kmph to 125 kmph and gusting up to 140 kmph by forenoon on the same day.
The system is likely to cross the coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh as a very severe cyclone on Wednesday.Deputy chief ministers KV Singh Deo and Pravati Parida have been assigned Koraput and Rayagada districts respectively, while minister Rabi Naik has been deployed in Kandhamal, Bibhuti Jena (Ganjam), Krushna Chandra Patra (Nabarangpur), Nityananda Gond (Malkangiri), Mukesh Mahaling (Kalahandi) and Suryabanshi Suraj (Gajapati). These districts are expected to bear the maximum brunt of the storm