PM Modi, HM Shah speak to Odisha CM Mohan Majhi on Cyclone ‘Dana’ threat; over 4L evacuated

CM Majhi outlined the extensive evacuation efforts by the state government, detailing the deployment of security forces, NDRF, and ODRAF to ensure safety and assistance amid the approaching cyclonic storm 'Dana'.

Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday held discussions with Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on the preparations to tackle impact of cyclonic storm ‘Dana’ expected to make landfall between Bhitarkanika and Dhamara on the Odisha coast during October 24 midnight and October 25 morning.

As per the Chief Minister’s Office, CM Majhi gave detailed information regarding the massive evacuation process carried out by the state government. He also shared details in connection with the deployment of security forces, NDRF and ODRAF for the safety and assistance of people during the fast-approaching severe cyclonic storm ‘Dana’.

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PM Modi expressed satisfaction over the preparations made to face the cyclone. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also spoke to CM Majhi and assured to provide all necessary help to the state.

As per the reports, a total of 4,17,626 people have so far been evacuated to relief camps and other centres. They have been kept in safe shelter and provided with cooked foods. Besides, 7,284 cyclone shelters were opened and out of them, 5,209 shelters are in functioning a full-fledged manner.

Similarly, it is estimated that 4,54,800 people in 2,163 villages in 64 blocks and 64 wards of 13 Urban Local Bodies in 11 districts will be affected in the severe cyclonic storm ‘Dana’.

A total of 213 medical teams and 120 animal treatment teams have also been deployed at several places in the districts that are likely to face the maximum impact. Besides, 3,654 expecting mothers have been shifted to hospitals and Maternity Waiting Home (Maa Gruha).

“As many as 385 total response forces have been deployed in the affected districts. Out of this, 19 NRDF teams, 51 ODRAF teams, 95 OFDC teams and 220 Fire service teams have been deployed. Rural Development Department has deployed 256 teams to clear and restore the roads,” said Revenue & Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari.

On the other hand, state Electronic and Information Technology Minister Mukesh Mahaling informed the mediapersons that all telecom service providers (TSP) have activated from Thursday the Intra Circle Roaming (ICR) facility in the state for seamless mobile network coverage during the cyclone.

Meanwhile, flight services at the Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) have been suspended owing to the impending severe Cyclone Dana which will hit the Odisha Coast on October 24 at midnight.

BPIA sources informed that around 40 flights have been suspended from 5 p.m. on October 24 to 9 a.m. on October 25.

“As per the IMD forecast, we are expecting wind speed of around 35 to 40 knots in Bhubaneswar and it may also exceed. This is not safe for flight operations at the airport so we convened an emergency meeting Wednesday night where all the stakeholders who are responsible for flight operations were present. Later, we unanimously decided to suspend from 5 p.m. on October 24 to 9 a.m. on October 25 at Bhubaneswar airport,” said Airport Director Prasanna Pradhan on Thursday.

Pradhan also added that the airport authorities will again review the situation on Friday morning and decide whether to extend the suspension or resume flight services. He said passengers are the main priority for the airport authorities. He informed the media persons that around 40 flights including international flight services were affected due to the suspension of services in view of an impending severe cyclonic storm.

Earlier on Thursday, Odisha CM Mohan Majhi said that all the necessary preparations to achieve zero casualties and tackle the impact of the impending severe cyclonic storm ‘Dana’ have been completed.

CM Majhi held discussions with the Collectors of Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Cuttack, Khordha and Jajpur over the progress regarding preparations for cyclone ‘Dana’ which is fast approaching the Odisha coast.

While addressing the mediapersons after reviewing the cyclone preparations here on Thursday, CM Majhi said that the Central government has contacted the state administration and assured to provide all the necessary assistance.

He said the Centre has also provided the number of NDRF teams sought by the state. The NDRF units have reached and already been deployed in the affected places.

CM Majhi also noted that 1,653 villages in 38 blocks, 26 wards in nine municipalities in 11 districts are expected to experience the impact of the severe cyclonic storm ‘Dana’.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said that the ‘eye’ (centre of the cyclonic storm) of severe cyclonic storm ‘DANA’, hasn’t been developed yet.

Mohapatra said that the ‘eye’ is formed when a cyclonic system becomes very strong. The cyclonic storm formed over the Bay of Bengal has remained as a severe cyclone and continued to move forward as predicted by the IMD.

Notably, ‘Dana’ lay centred over the Bay of Bengal, about 180 km southeast of Paradip , 210 km south-southeast of Dhamara (Odisha) and 270 km south of Sagar Island (West Bengal) is very likely to move north-northwestwards and cross Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island close to Bhitarkanika and Dhamara (Odisha) during the midnight of October 24 to morning of October 25 as a severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting up to 120 kmph.