Officials Asked To Remain On Alert For 45 Days As Odisha Gears Up For Possible Cyclones

Bhubaneswar: As the cyclone season approaches in Odisha, the state government has started preparations to minimize the impact of any potential calamity.

Chief Secretary P K Jena has directed district collectors and department secretaries to remain alert for 45 days from October 10.

The director of the Bhubaneswar Regional Meteorological Centre, HR Biswas, has informed the state government that the southwest monsoon is likely to be withdrawn by October 10.

Favourable weather conditions are created for cyclones in the Bay of Bengal within 45 days from the departure of monsoon in the state.

Therefore, the state needs to remain vigilant for 45 days from October 10 as most of the cyclones were formed within that period in the past.

Jena has issued directions to the collectors of vulnerable districts, emphasizing the need for cooperation and coordination among departments.

He has asked the departments to keep their officials and machinery ready and if required, procure the latest equipment used for rescue and relief operations during the calamities.

Jena has also asked officials to ensure that all tube wells in rural and urban areas are in functioning condition.

He has also asked them to prepare a list of pregnant women, elderly people and disabled persons so that they can be easily identified and rescued in case of emergency.

The state government has also stressed the need to create awareness among the people living in the coastal districts and required measures to protect the saline embankments in the cyclone-prone areas.

Jena has also directed officials to store medicines and keep ambulances and doctors in full preparedness.