Vikash Sharma

Bhubaneswar: Even as entire Odisha was on its toes in view of the possible destruction that cyclone ‘Daye’ might have caused, it crossed Gopalpur coast yesterday midnight without a single casualty. Special Relief Commissioner Bishnupada Sethi reiterated this today declaring that Chief Minister’s ‘Mission Zero Casualty’ was successfully achieved.

Keeping in view the forecast of India Meteorological Department (IMD) that the deep depression over Bay of Bengal has intensified into a cyclonic storm, alert was issued to administrative officials of several coastal districts including Puri, Ganjam, Gajapati, Nayagarh, Puri and Khurda.

“Apart from alerting district administrations, we had deployed ODRAF, NDRF teams in Puri and Ganjam and people from various vulnerable pockets were evacuated to safer places,” said Sethi.

Sethi further informed that normal life in over 33 blocks in Odisha was however disrupted following incessant rain triggered by the cyclone. Malkangiri district received over 400 mm rainfall in the past 24 hours.

Road communication in several parts of Malkangiri district has been affected including at Poteru and Karkunda and other parts while water level of several rivers in the district including Chitrakonda dam continues on a rising trend.

“Cyclone Daye has weakened. The deep depression is positioned near Titlagarh as per updates at 5.30 am. It's moving towards west, north-west,” informed Director of Bhubaneswar Regional Meterological Centre, HR Biswas.

Biswas further informed that several parts of Odisha will experience heavy to very heavy rainfall in the next 24 hours.

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