Ahead of Cyclone Yaas, Odisha is ready with evacuation plans

The Regional Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, has predicted heavy rainfall for several places including all six coastal districts of Ganjam, Bhadrak, Balasore, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur and Puri over the next 5 days. Besides, heavy to very heavy rainfall will occur in several interior districts.

Published on: May 21, 2021, 23:48:52 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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Ahead of cyclonic storm ‘Yaas’ heading towards Odisha, the state government on Friday asked officials at the Gram Panchayat level to ensure smooth evacuation of people residing in low-lying areas to safer places and asked fishermen not to venture out into deep sea from today.

A low pressure area is developing in the Andaman Sea and east-central Bay of Bengal around May 22 which may intensify into a cyclonic storm by May 24 and may move north-westwards and reach Odisha and the West Bengal Coast around May 26 morning. (ANI PHOTO.)

Special Relief Commissioner Pradeep Jena said a low pressure area is developing in the Andaman Sea and east-central Bay of Bengal around May 22 which may intensify into a cyclonic storm by May 24 and may move north-westwards and reach Odisha and the West Bengal Coast around May 26 morning. “It is likely to make landfall between Sundarbans near north Odisha coast and Bangladesh. The exact path of the cyclone is not yet known, but by tomorrow it would be clearer,” he said.

Jena said all coastal districts are ready and officials at the Gram Panchayat level have been asked to ensure smooth evacuation of people residing in low-lying areas to safer places.

“By now, the fisheries department has brought back nearly all the fishermen out at sea except 39. We hope by tomorrow those 39 would be brought back too. We have adequate workforce for rescue and relief operations. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into deep sea from today,” said the SRC.

Jena further said the NDMA has asked all states to be prepared for the possible cyclonic storm. As part of preparatory measures, teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and Fire Services have been sent to the districts likely to be affected by the cyclone.

Jena said all officials have been asked to bring down high mast lights installed at various locations in urban areas. Advertisement boards like billboards and hoardings will also be removed.

The Regional Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, has predicted heavy rainfall for several places including all six coastal districts of Ganjam, Bhadrak, Balasore, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur and Puri over the next 5 days. Besides, heavy to very heavy rainfall will occur in several interior districts.

The Indian Coast Guard too, is closely monitoring the weather development and has initiated pre-emptive/preventive measures directing fishing boats to return to harbour for safety. Radar Stations of the Coast Guard in West Bengal and Odisha have also started transmitting weather warnings over VHF at regular intervals both in English and in vernacular language to alert Merchant Vessels and fishing boats operating at sea.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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