The State Government has drawn up a disaster management plan for averting disasters during the Nabakalebar festival of lord Jagannath this year in view of the large inflow of tourists and devotees during the grand event, said sources in the State Government. The Government expects inflow of tourists and devotees during the event to be around 50 lakh or more.
The Revenue and Disaster Management Department has been entrusted with the responsibility of execution of the plan. While officers of five departments would be included in the action committee for implementation of the plan, the Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department would head it, said sources.
The blueprint of the plan has included issues like transportation of tourists, epidemic control, drinking water supply, safe bathing facilities in the sea and at different ponds associated with pilgrimage, an eye on terrorists, information management of accidents in different areas of the pilgrim city, healthcare services, uninterrupted power supply, robust security arrangements, traffic control, crowd control and prevention of stampedes.
The committee aims for action on different issues using standard operating procedures (SOP). It would take steps for preventing stampedes and jams in peak crowd situations during the Nabakalebar.
Special steps are being taken by the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) for crowd control and management, traffic control, prevention of stampedes and thwarting possible terrorist threats and tackling of situation arising out of possible terror attacks.
Sources said an operating procedure for prevention of possible terror attacks and quick striking plan in event of terror attack have been drawn up. The preventive measures include security arrangements inside Shree Mandir, its four sides, security of chariots and crowd control on the Grand Road.
Similarly, a constant vigil would be kept on sea and air routes and special security arrangements inside and outside the Gundicha Temple. One senior police officer would be entrusted with responsibility in each of these departments. Specially trained security personnel and forces have been requisitioned for the purpose.
More numbers of officers from the intelligence wing, striking force, specially-trained police in plainclothes would be deployed. For surveillance purposes, more than 300 close circuit cameras would be installed in different locations of the city.
Sources also said a joint action force would be entrusted with the task of preventing road and rail mishaps and arrangements would be made for management of accidents. Requisite numbers of ambulances, rescue teams, earthmoving machines like JCBs would be deployed in each route where there would be traffic movement during the grand event.
Operation theatres (OTs) at the District Headquarters Hospital and other hospitals would be refurbished and services of doctors would be ensured on a 24-hour basis. Special stress has been laid on prevention and control of epidemics in the plan.
The Health Department has drawn a special plan for controlling spread of diarrhoea, jaundice, fevers, etc. In the period between Snana Purnima and Niladribije, drinking water samples would be tested twice a day. Squads would be formed for checking sale of adulterated and stale food by unscrupulous traders.
Safe bathing facilities would be developed on the beach for bathers and 300 lifeguards would be deployed on the beach. Besides, 1,000 firefighting personnel would be deployed in the beach and ponds. Armed policemen would be stationed atop watchtowers along the beach to keep vigil.
The beach would have a net barricade for preventing bathers from being swept away due to currents. Rescue teams would be equipped with boats and first aid facilities. Unsafe buildings in the city would be sealed before the festival.
Security men would be stationed atop buildings to monitor movements and possible security threats. About 10,000 volunteers including Government officers would be deployed in crowd control and emergency services during the Nabakalebar.