Bhubaneswar: In view of the very severe cyclonic storm Yaas likely to make landfall on the coastal areas of Odisha, the evacuation drive is on a war footing and is expected to be completed by evening while rescue teams have been deployed with high-end equipment to carry out effective and prompt rescue operations, informed Y K Jethwa, ADGP (Law and Order).
Briefing the media persons, the ADGP said, "To tackle the impending Cyclone Yaas, Odisha Police has been involved in the pre-cyclone measures and post-cyclone rescue operation. The police teams in the vulnerable and coastal districts under the supervision of respective SPs have intensified the evacuation drive. As many as 81,661 people living in vulnerable areas have already been evacuated and sent to cyclone shelters. The evacuation drive will be expedited in the coming hours and by the evening we will finish the evacuation drive."
On the post-cyclone recovery plan, he said, "For post-cyclone rescue and recovery, the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) have already been deployed in all vulnerable locations. 55 platoons of Odisha Arm Police are also with them to assist in rescue and recovery work. NDRF and Odisha Fire Service teams are also there. Under the supervision of district administration and SPs, the operations are underway in a coordinated manner."
Y K Jethwa emphasised that the rescue teams are laced with high-end equipment and machinery for prompt and effective rescue and restoration operations.
Read:| Cyclone Yaas to intensify into 'very severe cyclonic storm' in next 12 hrs
"ODRAF teams have been provided with high-end equipment like hydraulic tree cutters, concrete cutters, plasma cutters, gas cutters to effectively and speedily carry out road clearance operations. They have JCBs, cranes and inflatable boats for effective movement. For uninterrupted communication, the teams have been provided with satellite phones and wireless sets. For energy supply, they have high-end 10 KVA generators, tower mast lights and searchlights so that they can effectively and promptly carry out the rescue operation," added Jethwa.
Considering that the severe cyclonic storm 'Yaas' is likely to make landfall in coastal areas of Odisha on Wednesday, the state on Tuesday issued a red alert warning for Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur and Balasore districts, which are likely to be affected by heavy rainfall.
Umashankar Das, Deputy Director of India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Bhubaneswar said, "A red alert, that is extremely heavy rainfall warning has been issued for Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur, and Balasore for today. The rainfall will exceed more than 20 cm."
The official said that an orange alert, that is heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, Cuttack, Khorda, and Puri today. "The rainfall in the district is expected to measure between 12-20 cm," Das said.
The IMD regional Deputy Director further said, "We are expecting wind speeds of 150-160 kmph. gusting 180kmph over Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak and Balasore tomorrow as landfall is expected by noon. We have issued the highest danger warning for Dhamra and Paradip ports."
Meanwhile, people have been evacuated by the Balasore district administration and Marine Police Force in the Chandipur area, ahead of the cyclonic storm Yaas.
"We are focusing on the evacuation of people from low-lying areas. 1,200 centres to be used as shelters have been sanitized due to the Covid-19 situation. We have health teams deployed at these centres. Power restoration and road clearance teams deployed," Balasore District Collector K Sudarshan Chakravarthy said.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has directed the state's home minister to reach Balasore today and remain there to monitor the situation.
Read:| Priority is to keep 'alive' oxygen plants, linked roads in Odisha, WB during Cyclone Yaas: NDRF DG
It has been predicted that the cyclonic storm Yaas is going to intensity into a 'very severe cyclonic storm' in the next 12 hours.
Cyclone Yaas is very likely to cross north Odisha-West Bengal coasts between Paradip and Sagar Island around Balasore, during noon of May 26 as a 'Very Severe Cyclonic Storm'.
West Bengal:
To minimise casualties from severe cyclone 'Yaas', expected to make landfall on Wednesday, the West Bengal government on Tuesday said it has relocated more than 9 lakh people to different cyclone centres, schools, colleges, and other government places in the last 24 hours.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that the state government has created a master plan with three lakh people working directly in relief and rescue work during and after the storm.
Addressing a press conference in state Secretariat 'Nabanna', she said: "After coming to power, we have developed 4,000 flood centres. People particularly in the areas of Digha, Sundarbans, Kakdwip, Sagar island and other low-lying areas have been shifted to flood centres and different schools. More than 9 lakh people have been evacuated and the process of shifting is still on. Last year we evacuated 10 lakh people."
Banerjee, who has decided to stay in the state Secretariat on Tuesday night to keep a close watch on the developments across the state, said: "We have opened war rooms in every block and they are asked to keep the district administration updated. A force of 3 lakh people has been set up to combat the severe cyclone.
"The force includes 74,000 government officials and employees, and 2 lakh police personnel. Apart from that, teams of the NDRF, SDRF, electricity, and telecom workers have been kept ready for any kind of emergency," the Chief Minister added.
The Army has also been kept on standby.
Seeking help from all clubs, puja committees, NGOs and other social organisations, the Chief Minister said that all ferry services have been cancelled and many trains have been cancelled.
"The tourism activity has been cancelled and there has been an absolute ban on fishing in the sea for the next few days. We have supplied all relief materials to the block and panchayat level and we will be monitoring everything from the state secretariat," she said.
Read:| India braces for Cyclone Yaas on eastern coast
There are 1,000 power restorations and 450 telecom restoration teams that will start working after the storm is over and the state government officials hope to restore power and telecom connectivity as soon as possible. There are also arrangements for 51 disaster management teams.
'Yaas', presently located 270 km away from Odisha's Paradip, and is likely to make landfall somewhere between Paradip and Sagar Island on Wednesday morning and will move towards Jharkhand. Though most of West Bengal will not face the direct effect of the storm, two districts -- East Midnapore and South 24 Parganas -- will see its impact.
Andhra Pradesh:
On the other hand, Andhra Pradesh Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Tuesday reviewed the preparations for Cyclone Yaas, including the need to make necessary arrangements for the safety of power plants and to ensure uninterrupted power supply to hospitals and health facilities treating COVID-19 patients.
Jagan Mohan Reddy held a review meeting with district collectors of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Vishakapatnam and discussed the precautionary measures to be taken regarding the situation in the wake of Cyclone Yaas.
During the review meeting held here on Tuesday, the Chief Minister directed the district collectors and officials to be on high alert and follow the updates of the meteorological department and take necessary actions accordingly. He said to monitor the movement of the storm and take the required measures.
Chief Secretary Adityanath Das attended the review meeting from Srikakulam through video conference and explained the situation in three districts. He said there is no major impact at present in the Srikakulam district except little rain and added that all higher officials are stationed in Srikakulam. Das said that the administration has arranged generators and diesel readily so that oxygen supply to COVID-19 patients in hospitals does not get interrupted.
Srikakulam District Collector E Nivas has explained the measures being taken in the wake of cyclone Yaas. He apprised of coordination efforts with Odisha officials and that special teams were placed in Ichapuram so that if any problem arises in the transportation of Oxygen tankers, it can be immediately addressed.
Read:| Odisha: Over 800 ODRAF personnel in 'high state of readiness' for cyclone Yaas
Vizianagaram District Collector Dr M Hari Jawaharlal said that no impact of the cyclone has been seen in the district so far and they are well prepared to deal with the cyclone. He said all types of generators were arranged in 28 COVID-19 hospitals in the district and added that enough diesel is available for four days.
He said that the district administration has arranged gas cylinders in COVID care centres to ensure no shortage of food. He said poles and transformers are also readily kept in case of any problem in power supply and added IMD alerts are being shared to Mandal level officers.
Vishakapatnam Collector Vinay Chand said that the situation is normal in the district and they are prepared to deal with the cyclone. He said measures are being taken for uninterrupted power supply to Oxygen producing plants and cylinder filling plants. He said all precautionary measures were taken in 80 hospitals where COVID-19 patients are being treated. He said alternative preparations are made if any problem arises in the supply of power.
(with inputs from agencies)
