Bhubaneswar, Oct 23: Odisha Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling on Wednesday said that the Health Department is on high alert in the wake of Cyclone Dana which is forecast to make landfall on October 24-25 along the coasts of Odisha.

He said directions and instructions have been given to all the CDMOs and that Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi is also monitoring the situation.

"The Health Department is on alert. Directions have been given to all CDMOs and their leaves have been cancelled. Measures have been made against the problems related of snake venom...The Chief Minister is also personally monitoring the situation," he said.

Meanwhile, former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik urged people to remain alert.

Patnaik said in a video that the state has an effective disaster management policy and this will help mitigate the impact of cyclone.

"Please remain alert, prioritize your safety, and cooperate fully with the administration. Don't panic. We have successfully faced several cyclones together in the past. Our effective disaster management policy will help us mitigate its impact. I urge all elected representatives to stand with the people during this challenging time and provide assistance. I firmly believe that together we will successfully overcome this cyclone, just as we have in the past," he said.

Speaking to ANI on Cyclone Dana, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) DIG Mohsen Shahidi said that teams are focusing on maximum evacuation before landfall of cyclone tomorrow.

"Twenty teams have been deployed in Odisha, 13 in West Bengal with four teams kept in reserve, preparations have made in Andhra Pradesh's Vizag...We are expecting that maximum evacuation will be done today before landfall of cyclone tomorrow," he said.

Notably, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted that the impending cyclonic storm Dana is expected to hit the Odisha coast between Bhitarkanika of Kendrapara district and Dhamara area of Bhadrak district on October 24 and 25.

In preparation for cyclone DANA, NDRF teams in Odisha is on standby. Additionally, rescue and relief teams from the Army, Navy and Coast Guard, along with ship and aircraft, have been placed on high alert. (ANI)

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