Odisha to deploy NDRF, ODRAF, Fire Services teams in vulnerable areas likely to be hit by Cyclone YASS

Bhubaneswar : The Odisha government will deploy 17 NDRF, 20 ODRAF and 150 Fire Service teams in vulnerable areas likely to be hit by the cyclonic storm YASS for rescue and rehabilitation works.

Odisha Special Relief Commissioner P K Jena today said the NDRF, ODRAF and Fire Service personnel will leave for the areas likely to be affected by the cyclone tomorrow.

He said the tree cutters from the Forest department will also be deployed in the area but their number will be decided later today.

Mr Jena said the district level officials and concerned department officials have already chalked out plans for evacuation, the shelter of affected people during the cyclone and supply of drinking water and electricity has been decided.

He said all precautions have been taken to ensure that all followed the Covid appropriate behaviour.

The SRC said there would be no problem in the manufacturing of oxygen and refilling of oxygen and steps have been taken to keep sufficient oxygen cylinders in Covid hospitals and Covid care centres.

The Officials were also asked to ensure alternate electricity and drinking water supply and to make arrangements for the deployment of the required number of doctors and other medical staff in covid hospitals and Covid care centres.

The Women and Child Development Department and Health and Family Welfare departments were asked to see that every single pregnant woman whose delivery is due in the next two weeks is shifted to hospitals instead of cyclone shelters much before the cyclone hit the coast.

The Energy Department has already mobilised staff, materials and equipment to take steps immediately if required.

Quoting the IMD report today, MrJena said a low-pressure area has already formed over North Andaman sea and adjoining East Central Bay of Bengal this morning.

It is likely to concentrate into a depression by tomorrow morning and move north-northwest wards to intensify into a cyclonic storm by May 24 and further into a very severe cyclonic storm during the subsequent 24 hours.

The Cyclonic storm continues to move north-westwards, intensify further and reach the North Bay of Bengal near West Bengal and adjoining the north Odisha and Bangladesh Coasts around May 26 morning.

Mr Jena said though the IMD has not yet forecast the exact place where it would make a landfall still it is likely to move northwestward and make landfall somewhere in between Sundarban and North Odisha on May 26.

He said in view of the cyclonic storm, the government has alerted the district collectors of all coastal districts and the departments to make preparations in advance to deal with the situation.

The SRC said all fishermen have returned to the coast and no fishermen of Odisha are in sea now. Steps have been taken to ensure that no fishermen will venture into sea for fishing till the cyclone is over.

The Agriculture department he said has issued an advisory asking the farmers to make drainage of their crop field, protect and store their harvested crops in safe place as the cyclonic storm is all likely to trigger widespread rains.

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