Odisha Health Department On High Alert For Cyclone Dana, Says Minister Mukesh Mahaling

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

ସମ୍ଭାବ୍ୟ ବାତ୍ୟା “ଦାନା”ର ମୁକାବିଲା ପାଇଁ ଆଜି ଭଦ୍ରକ, କେନ୍ଦ୍ରାପଡ଼ା, ଜଗତସିଂହପୁର, ବାଲେଶ୍ଵର, ପୁରୀ ଓ ଖୋର୍ଦ୍ଧା ସହ ଅନ୍ୟ ଆଠଟି ଜିଲ୍ଲାର ମୁଖ୍ୟ ଚିକିତ୍ସାଧିକାରୀଙ୍କୁ ନେଇ ଭିଡିଓ କନଫରେନ୍ସ ମାଧ୍ୟମରେ ଅନୁଷ୍ଠିତ ପ୍ରସ୍ତୁତି ବୈଠକରେ ଯୋଗଦେଇ ଏହାର ସମୀକ୍ଷା କରିଥିଲି। pic.twitter.com/nKtQm2OfJt — Dr. Mukesh Mahaling (@MahalingMukesh) October 23, 2024

"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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ସ୍ଵତନ୍ତ୍ର ରିଲିଫ୍ କମିଶନରଙ୍କ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟାଳୟରେ ସମ୍ଭାବ୍ୟ ବାତ୍ୟା 'ଦାନା' ମୁକାବିଲା ପାଇଁ ପ୍ରସ୍ତୁତିର ସମୀକ୍ଷା କଲି। ବାତ୍ୟାର ମୁକାବିଲା ପାଇଁ ସରକାର ସଂପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ରୂପେ ପ୍ରସ୍ତୁତ। ଧନ ଜୀବନକୁ ସୁରକ୍ଷିତ ରଖିବା, ରିଲିଫ ଯୋଗାଣ, ଉଦ୍ଧାର କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକୁ ଗୁରୁତ୍ଵ ଦେବା ସହ 'ଜିରୋ କାଜୁଆଲିଟି'କୁ ସୁନିଶ୍ଚିତ କରିବା ପାଇଁ ସମସ୍ତ ବିଭାଗ… pic.twitter.com/zBGKbyAHSZ — Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) October 23, 2024

In a post on X, the Chief Minister said: “I reviewed the preparedness in the office of the Special Relief Commissioner to deal with possible cyclone 'Dana'. The State government is fully prepared to deal with the cyclonic storm. All the departments are working in good coordination to ensure 'Zero Casualty' in safeguarding the human lives, providing relief, giving priority to rescue operations.”

 The Chief Minister also urged people not to be scared of Cyclone ‘Dana’ but to follow the information provided by the government and take necessary precautions for safety.

The meeting was held in the presence of Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari and senior bureaucrats.

Earlier, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had claimed that the State government aims to ensure Zero casualties in the cyclone.

The Chief Minister instructed all MLAs to visit their respective assembly segments and assist with rescue and relief efforts. He also assigned Nine Ministers to districts expected to be heavily impacted by Cyclone 'Dana'.

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.

IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said that coastal areas of Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore districts are likely to witness high tidal waves surging up to 1 to 2 meters in height due to the effect of the cyclone Dana.

Meanwhile, the Odisha government has taken several precautionary measures, including evacuation of the residents living in around 3,000 identified vulnerable places in affected districts, deployment of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Fire Services personnel in these districts.

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“We expect that around 10 lakh people will be evacuated from affected areas of the state. We have made arrangements to provide all the necessary humanitarian amenities to the evacuated persons at the relief centres. I want to appeal again today that the villagers in areas expected to be affected in the cyclone to come to cyclone shelters by today sunset,” appealed Pujari.

He assured the people that they should not fear theft at their residence on account of their absence as the local police will safeguard their property till their return from the shelters.

The state government has created around 6,000 relief and cyclone shelters across the state to accommodate people being evacuated from vulnerable places. 

Pujari also informed the media persons that the Special Relief Commissioner on Wednesday apprised the state cabinet about the steps taken for the rescue and relief operations in view of the cyclone ‘DANA’.

He said that the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and Fire Services personnel have already been deployed in the affected areas.

He warned about taking stringent action against black-marketers if anyone tries to reap illegal benefits through hoarding. He said the state Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department has kept a strict watch on the market.  

Meanwhile, many places in coastal districts like Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, and Odisha started witnessing rainfall due to the effect of the impending severe cyclonic storm Dana. 

The cyclonic storm is expected to further intensify into a severe cyclonic storm and hit north Odisha and the West Bengal coast between Puri district and Sagar Island from night of 24th to morning of 25th October 2024 as a severe Cyclonic Storm with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting 120 kmph.

--IANS

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