Balasore: With the latest update from Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) that the Cyclone Yaas is likely to make landfall somewhere around Balasore district, the State machinery is gearing up to evacuate vulnerable people from its path.
The ADG of Law and Order, Yaswant Jethwa on Monday visited the districts of Balasore and Bhadrak which are very likely to bear the brunt of the cyclone, to review the preparedness on ground.
Expressing satisfaction over the preparations, Jethwa said, “Our primary focus right now is on the pre-cyclone exercises, which include, mass awareness, evacuation of people to safer places and to ensure seamless coordination of ODRAF teams with district administration and the police.”
“We are in touch with the IMD and adequate manpower is being provided at required positions,” Jethwa added.
As far as the Bhadrak district is concerned, “94,000 people from 41 villages under five police stations and three marine police stations will be evacuated to 104 permanent cyclone shelters and 661 temporary shelter points identified in the district,” Jethwa said.
As per Jethwa’s brief, as many as 15 platoons of police force will be deployed to meet any eventuality that might crop up during or after the Cyclone Yaas.
Earlier, IMD DG Mrutyunjay Mohapatra had said the cyclone is likely to inflict severe damages to thatched houses, asbestos roofs and even the old pucca buildings. Big trees including palm, coconut which mostly grow in coastal areas may get uprooted due to severe wind speed on the day of landfall.