Khordha (Odisha) [India], October 24 : Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo on Thursday said that the government is fully prepared and all the concerned departments and staff are ready to deal with any situation that arises due to severe cyclonic storm Dana's landfall.
Speaking to ANI in Bhubaneswar, Odisha Deputy CM Deo said, "The Government is prepared. All concerned departments of the Government are in position and all officers & workers of the various departments of the Government are in place and ready to tackle any eventuality...
Each and every department of the Government, including the Chief Minister, Urban Minister, Revenue Minister, everybody is seized of the situation and we are taking whatever necessary steps that need to be taken at the ground level. Rather than creating a fear psychosis amongst the people, we should be more proactive and give justice to the people..."
India Meteorological Department Director General Mrityunjay Mohapatra said that severe cyclonic storm Dana's most adverse impact will be over Odisha followed by West Bengal coastal districts.
Speaking to ANI in Delhi, IMD DG Dr Mrityunjay Mohapatra said, "The cyclone Dana intensified into a severe cyclonic storm last midnight and moved north north-westward and today in the forenoon it is lying centered about 200 km southeast."
"The most adverse impact will be over Odisha followed by West Bengal coastal districts, but after landfall, it is expected to move west-northwestward and hence there could be an increase in rainfall activity over south Jharkhand. We also issued heavy to very heavy rainfall warnings for south Jharkhand districts at isolated places. There could be a wind speed of 40 to 50 Km/hr in Jharkhand and 50 to 60 Km/hr in interior districts of Odisha on the 24th and 25th," he added.
Earlier today, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi haired a high-level meeting to review the preparedness for severe Cyclone Dana at Lok Seva Bhavan in Bhubaneswar. Minister of Revenue and Disaster Management, Suresh Pujari was also present at the meeting.
Odisha Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra said that everyone is on alert in the areas where the cyclone is expected to make landfall.
Speaking to ANI, Odisha Minister Mahapatra said, "All the ministers have been given responsibilities to look after the affected areas. One IAS officer to each district has also been deployed... All are alert in those places where the cyclone is expected to make landfall. Officers are working sincerely, our party workers are also working."
Evacuation started earlier today for people living in Dhamara and Bhadrak in Odisha, with people being brought to the cyclone shelter, according to officials.
Additionally, teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) in both Odisha and West Bengal have been placed on standby.
Meanwhile, the Indian Navy is preparing to conduct Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations in anticipation of the severe impact of Cyclone Dana along the coast of Odisha and West Bengal, according to officials.
Eastern Naval Command, in coordination with Naval Officers-in-Charge (NOIC) in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal, has activated a comprehensive disaster response mechanism. The command is working closely with units such as the Base Victualling Yard (BVY), Material Organisation and the naval hospital INHS Kalyani to provide essential supplies and medical support if sought by the State administration, Indian Navy said.