In view of the approaching cyclonic storm Jawad, the Odisha Fire Services has begun preparations to handle pre and post-disaster operations.
Cyclone Jawad Live Updates: Landfall At South of Puri On Sunday
The Fire Services headquarters has alerted all Fire Service personnel and is assessing the preparedness to deal with the developing situation.
To deal with the emerging situation, 172 teams of Fire personnel have been formed of which 125 teams have already been mobilised and deployed in the coastal districts which are likely to be affected more.
While 47 teams of the Fire Services have been kept on standby mode at Naraj in Cuttack, the quick action team has been mobilised and kept on standby to combat any situation.
"We have been directed to focus on the coastal districts- Ganjam, Gajapati, Puri, Khordha, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Bhadrak and Balasore, which are cyclone-prone," said Bhagirathi Ghadei, Chief Fire Officer, Cuttack.
We also have additional forces on standby to send if any district faces severe damages due to the cyclonic storm.
Meanwhile, the deep depression over west-central adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal intensified into a cyclonic storm on Friday, said IMD DG Mrutyunjay Mohapatra.
As per IMD's latest forecast, the cyclone is likely to touch the coast of Puri district. After hitting the coast, the system may again divert towards the sea. There's also a possibility of the cyclonic system not hitting the coast at all in the event it changes path further.