Cyclone Dana: Relief shelters in full readiness welcome evacuees from high-risk areas

At least 800 cyclone shelters and 500 temporary shelters in Odisha, which include schools and colleges, in full readiness welcomed evacuees from high-risk areas as the impending severe cyclonic storm inches closer to landfall.

These centers are stocked with food, water, medicine and electricity to accommodate evacuees as CM Mohan Majhi emphasised on ‘zero casualty’ goal. Special preparations have been made for everyone, especially pregnant women. Women police officials have been deployed to ensure safety and security of everyone.

However, some people are reluctant to vacate their houses fearing thefts even as police have been directed to intensify patrolling.

“Fearing for lives, I have brought my family here. But, I’m worried about my cattle. I have tied them in a cow shed next to my home and stocked grass for them. I’m praying they are safe and nothing happens to them during the cyclone,” stated a farmer from Kendrapara.

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Most evacuees claimed to be still living in thatched huts and feared for their houses to be blown away in the high wind. With no house under the government-launched housing schemes, they blamed the negligent attitude of the previous Naveen-Patnaik-led BJD government.

“I had requested our sarpanch for a house, but he ignored my pleas. Most of us here are landless people and are deprived of a pucca house under the government’s housing schemes. Had they given us a proper house, we could have stayed there and saved our cattle,” alleged another Kendrapara local.

Meanwhile, the leaves of health service providers have been suspended and they have been directed to stay vigilant in shelter homes. Essential medicines like anti-snake venom, fever, diarrhea and other common disease are been made easy available for people.

This apart, the provision of safe drinking water is made to avoid the spread of waterborne disease. As per early reports, as many as 30 per cent of the targeted 10L people have been evacuated to safe places by Wednesday evening and the evacuation process will continue till 11 am today.