Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday urged Union Defence Minister Arun Jaitley to issue standing instructions to defence forces, especially the Indian Air Force (IAF), to remain in readiness to extend support to the State administration for rescue and relief operations after the cyclonic storm Hudhud touches the landmass.
“The defence units located in and around Odisha may be directed to provide all possible support to civil authorities for effective management of disasters as and when any request to that effect is made by the State administration,” said Patnaik in a letter to the Defence Minister.
Patnaik recalled that the defence services had extended commendable cooperation to the State Government in relief and rescue operations during the cyclone Phailin last year.
The Chief Minister said the NDRF 3rd Battalion at Mundali in Odisha has also been roped in for their deployment to undertake the required search and rescue operations along with ODRAF.
Meanwhile, Patnaik presided over a review meeting in the morning to take stock of the preparedness level of different departments to face the cyclonic storm. A mock drill would be held at 320 multipurpose cyclone shelters in the State, he said.