Bhubaneswar, Sept. 23 (UDN): Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday reviewed the state’s preparedness for heavy rainfall linked to a Deep Depression over the Bay of Bengal and directed officials to make “zero casualty” the priority in managing the situation.
The review meeting was held at Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar in the presence of Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister and Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Patil, among other senior officials.
CM Orders Evacuation From Waterlogged Areas
During the meeting, the Special Relief Commissioner briefed the Chief Minister on the movement of the weather system, the rainfall forecast and the preparedness measures undertaken across the state.
Majhi directed officials to ensure close coordination between state-level departments and district administrations, with the safety of people and protection of property given top priority.
He instructed authorities to evacuate people from waterlogged areas to safer locations and ensure adequate relief for those shifted to shelters.
While noting that the weather system was not expected to develop into a cyclone, the Chief Minister asked officials to maintain a high level of preparedness and take precautionary measures.
Heavy rainfall is expected on Wednesday and Thursday, with conditions likely to improve after September 25, officials informed the meeting.
33 ODRAF Teams Deployed
Odisha has deployed 33 ODRAF teams in districts expected to face the impact of the weather system.
Ganjam and Koraput have six teams each, while Gajapati, Malkangiri and Rayagada have three teams each. Two teams have been deployed in Kalahandi and one in Balangir.
Nine additional ODRAF teams from Chhatrapur in Ganjam have been kept in reserve for emergency deployment.
NDRF and Fire Services teams have also been positioned and kept ready. Rescue boats, power boats and life jackets have been arranged for emergency operations.
Emergency Centres To Remain Operational
District and block-level Emergency Operation Centres have been directed to function round the clock. Authorities have been asked to identify vulnerable habitations, keep shelters ready and stock essential supplies, including dry food, baby food, drinking water and sanitation materials.
The Water Resources Department is monitoring river and reservoir levels, inspecting vulnerable embankments and coordinating controlled releases of water wherever required.
In urban areas, officials are monitoring drainage systems and keeping dewatering pumps ready for low-lying underpasses. Traffic diversions will be implemented wherever necessary.
Several departments, including Health and Family Welfare, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water, Energy, Commerce and Transport, Works, Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, and Fisheries and Animal Resources Development, have been instructed to remain alert.
Fishermen Barred From Venturing Into Sea
With rough sea conditions expected along the Odisha coast, Local Warning Signal No. 3 has been hoisted at all ports.
Fishermen have been prohibited from venturing into the sea, with district administrations directed to ensure compliance with the restriction.
Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur and Kalahandi have been accorded the highest priority for preparedness. Nuapada, Balangir, Kandhamal, Puri, Khordha and Nayagarh are also maintaining necessary arrangements.
Red, Orange And Yellow Alerts Issued
The Deep Depression over the west-central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal moved westwards at around 12 kmph during the six hours preceding 5.30 am on Wednesday. At that time, it was located around 150 km south of Gopalpur.
The system is expected to move west-northwestwards and cross the north Andhra Pradesh-south Odisha coast between Visakhapatnam and Gopalpur, near Kalingapatnam, by Wednesday night.
Under its influence, heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in several parts of Odisha.
A Red Warning has been issued for Rayagada, Koraput, Gajapati and Ganjam, where heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely, accompanied by winds of 50-60 kmph and gusts up to 70 kmph.
An Orange Warning is in force for Nuapada, Balangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, Puri, Khordha and Nayagarh.
A Yellow Warning covers Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj, Subarnapur and Boudh.
The state and district administrations are maintaining real-time monitoring of rainfall, waterlogging, shelter arrangements, electricity and drinking water supply, rescue resources and reservoir levels as the Deep Depression approaches the coast.
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