Cyclone Yaas: Disaster Response Teams To Be Mobilised In Odisha Tomorrow

Bhubaneswar: With the Regional Meteorological Centre of the IMD on Saturday confirming the formation of a low pressure over East-central Bay of Bengal, the Special Relief Commissioner of the State informed that the authorities of all government departments and various districts are executing their preparations on a war footing to tackle the possible cyclonic storm that may intensify from the low-pressure system by May 24.

SRC Pradeep Jena informed newsmen that all the disaster response troops will be mobilised for rescue and relief operations tomorrow. As per sources, a total of 17 NDRF, 20 ODRAF & 150 fire fighting teams will be dispatched to various districts that are more likely to be affected by the cyclonic storm. 

As the sea condition is most likely to get very rough during the cyclone, the Coast Guard has safely brought back all fishermen from the sea. Jena said that district authorities have been directed to urge farmers to safely store their crop and farm produce in view of the cyclone.

This apart, directives have also been issued to decongest drains that are likely to get inundated in case of heavy rainfall.

NGOs have been roped in for shifting of people during the cyclone, shelter management and restoration and rehabilitation works. 

Discussions have also been done to ensure seamless transport of medical oxygen for Covid patients without any hindrance and an action plan has also been made with the department of industries, said the SRC.

Orders have been issued to maintain adequate stock of oxygen cylinders at Covid care centres and Covid hospitals. Officials have been asked to ensure that no pregnant women are shifted to any cyclone or flood centres during the cyclone but they should be moved to hospitals directly to avoid any risks. 

Mass awareness through loudspeakers should be carried out to make people aware of the possible cyclone and necessary precautionary steps that needed to be taken. People will be distributed masks at shelters and rapid response teams will be sent to wherever necessary for health check-up of any people.

Forest authorities have also been directed to stay vigilant with their response teams on readiness for immediate restoration works in the aftermath of the cyclonic storm.

The IMD on Saturday informed that the low-pressure formed over Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify into a deep depression tomorrow and into a cyclonic storm on the morning of May 24. The cyclone is likely to cross the coastline between West Bengal, Odisha & Bangladesh as a very severe cyclonic storm.

IMD DG Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said that the wind speed of the cyclone might reach 120-165 kmph during landfall. After the low-pressure intensifies into a deep depression, its exact place of landfall and time can be ascertained.