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Bhubaneswar, Oct 26 (IANS) Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari reviewed the state’s preparedness in the districts likely to be affected by the cyclonic system ‘Montha’ during a high-level meeting on Sunday.
Speaking to media persons, Pujari said eight districts of southern Odisha, Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Kalahandi and Nabarangpur, which are most likely to be affected, have been kept in the red zone category.
He further said that the administrations of all 30 districts – whether in the red zone or not – have been instructed to be prepared to deal with any situation if the cyclonic system changes its course. The minister said the deep depression over south-east Bay of Bengal was moving in west-northwest direction at a speed of about 6 kilometers per hour during the last six hours.
The system is likely to move approximately west-northwestwards and further intensify into a cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours. It is very likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm and cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam around Kakinada during the evening/night of 28 October.
He said that Malkangiri district of Odisha is about 200 km away from the place where the cyclone is likely to hit.
The Revenue Minister reviewed the preparedness during discussions with collectors of all 30 districts at a high-level meeting on cyclone preparedness and response measures on Sunday. Collectors who are not affected by the cyclone have also been instructed to send additional support teams if needed, which can also be sent to neighboring districts if needed.
“During the last few months, we have seen that incidents of landslides have started emerging as a major problem for Odisha in the wake of heavy rains. District collectors have also been directed to identify hilly areas and areas where landslides are likely and take all precautionary measures to deal with them,” Pujari said.
Since there is a possibility of landslides in Gajapati district, teams of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and fire service, forest department have been deployed in advance in the area. All other concerned departments like energy, health and water resources departments have been consulted to deal with the situation like power cut, availability of medicines, anti-venom injections, possible waterlogging and rise in river water level etc.
Fishermen have already returned from the sea, and fishing activities have been banned from October 27 to 31. In Gajapati district, people living in high altitude areas like Mahendragiri are being shifted to safer lower areas.
Collectors have been instructed to ensure complete evacuation of people from vulnerable areas to cyclone and flood shelters as well as school buildings and community centers by 5 pm tomorrow.
So far, 128 teams of ODRAF, NDRF and fire services have been deployed in eight districts. Collectors have been instructed to ensure complete transportation of people from sensitive areas to safe shelters by 5 pm tomorrow.
The district administration has been instructed to take strict action against black marketing of essential commodities. The government has canceled leaves of all employees in cyclone-prone districts and ordered closure of all schools.
–IANS
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