As cyclone Dana roars in, 6 lakh get out of the way, trains and flights halted

CM Majhi reviews preparedness with senior officers and district collectors of 11 districts, says PM Modi keeping watch

Before the cyclone Dana’s arrival, Odisha made preparations by evacuating approximately six hundred thousand individuals from at-risk regions, transferring more than 4,400 expectant mothers to hospitals, canceling over 200 train services, and suspending flight operations at Bhubaneswar Airport for a period exceeding 12 hours.

Between Bhitarkanika and Dhamara in Odisha, the cyclone is forecasted to hit land in the wee hours of Friday, bringing wind velocities ranging from 100 to 120 kmph.

Anticipated heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in the northern and coastal regions of the state due to the cyclone. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for districts such as Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Balasore, and Mayurbhanj. Furthermore, high tides are predicted during the cyclone’s landfall, potentially leading to widespread flooding. The IMD also forecasts possible damage to power and communication infrastructure, as well as disruptions to road transportation.

During the review of the state’s readiness, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was closely monitoring the situation. Furthermore, he guaranteed that the Central government would provide full assistance to the state authorities to address the issue at hand.

During a press briefing held in the late hours, the Chief Minister announced that approximately six hundred thousand individuals have been successfully evacuated by the authorities and provided shelter in nearly 8,000 designated locations.

The state government has successfully relocated 4,431 pregnant women to hospitals, highlighting the importance of proper care during pregnancy. Among them, 1,600 women have already given birth, with all mothers and babies reported to be in good health, bringing joy and relief.

Majhi further mentioned his communication with PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, informing them about the state government’s readiness. He stated, “They have pledged complete assistance from the Central government to address the circumstances.

During the course of the day, the Chief Minister deliberated with district collectors on the urgent requirement to expedite the reinstatement of critical services such as electricity and water supply, as well as the resumption of road transportation following the cyclone’s impact.

Numerous medical teams, totaling 92, along with 58 veterinary teams, have been dispatched to districts in need to provide medical assistance to both humans and animals.

In these districts, there are twenty teams from the National Disaster Response Force, 51 teams from the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force, 178 fire service teams, and more than 200 platoons of police personnel on deployment.

According to officials, the government machinery is utilizing established “best practices” from the past to fulfill its goal of achieving zero casualties.

Over the years, Odisha, having faced the devastating loss of over 10,000 lives during the super cyclone of 1999, has significantly bolstered its disaster management infrastructure. The state has garnered praise for its effective handling of cyclones such as Phailin in 2013, Hudhud in 2014, Titli in 2018, and Fani in 2019, establishing itself as a frontrunner in the realm of disaster preparedness and response.

The state government swiftly sprung into action upon the IMD’s declaration of a cyclonic storm forming over the Bay of Bengal. It promptly mobilized its resources, repurposing 6,400 school buildings to serve as makeshift cyclone shelters in addition to the existing 840 multi-purpose cyclone shelters.

Experienced senior officials adept at managing cyclones have been mobilized and allocated to districts expected to face the brunt of the impact. Additionally, ministers have been deployed to oversee relief and rescue efforts in vulnerable areas.

A state official mentioned that Odisha is well-prepared to handle any natural disaster, relying on established strategies that have effectively managed even more intense cyclones than Dana in the past, resulting in zero casualties.