Rashmi Ranjan

Bhubaneswar: After battling with cyclone Tauktae in western India, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is all geared up to help Odisha and West Bengal fight the possible ‘very severe cyclonic’ storm Yaas.

Around 10 teams, including five units, of NDRF’s 10th battalion at Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, who were deployed in Gujarat, landed in Odisha today. Similarly, five units of the third battalion at Mundali are also ready to mitigate any kind of eventualities during the possible cyclone.

AK Patnaik, Assistant Commandant, Munduli Battalion, said, “As many as 15 teams of our battalion are well prepared for the cyclone. Of the 15 teams, five had gone to Gujarat for cyclone Tauktae. Now, they have returned to the State. Besides, five teams of Vijayawada battalion, who were also in Gujarat, have been diverted to Odisha.”

“Our jawans are prepared as per the Covid guidelines and they have all Covid protective equipment with them,” Patnaik added.

“We have been deployed in Odisha for the possible cyclone after our rescue operation ended in Gujarat. We are mentally and physically prepared to face another cyclone,” said another top NDRF official.

“The rescue and relief operations amid Covid-19 pandemic is very challenging. But, we need to motivate our jawans as this is our responsibility. We all are family men, but we are born to perform our duties,” he added.

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