Taking seriously a pre-cyclone warning in the Odisha coast by Bhubanbeswar weather office, the State Government on Tuesday alerted 14 district administrations, which were badly affected by the 1999 Super Cyclone for maintain preparedness.
In an SOS call, the Government also informed the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, the Air Force, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (NDMA) and the ODRAF for necessary action to meet any exigencies.
The Meteorology department has warned that a depression may hit the Odisha coast between evening and midnight on October 12 next. State Relief Commissioner PK Mohapatra stating that the Government does not want to take any chance, said, "We have written to the Union Home Affairs, the Air Force, the NDMA, the ODRAF and the State Fire Services to be in ready to meet the situation."
He said that the State Government would utilize the services of the Air Force for relief and rescue operations if need be.
"We have also sounded an alert for the Collectors of 14 districts which were affected by the 1999 October Super Cyclone to be well prepared," he said.
Mohapatra said that in order to strengthen the preparedness to meet the challenges, the District Collectors were asked to conduct immediate meetings of the District Disaster Management Agency at the district level by involving all stakeholders.
The District EOCs have also been activated. The State ODRAF units and Fire Service units and the NDRF 3rd Battalion at Mundali have been put on alert for their eventual deployment for evacuation, search and rescue operations, Mohapatra said.
Depending on the situation, the State Government may require the assistance of defence forces, especially the Indian Air Force for rescue and relief operations by air. Besides, assistance of more NDRF forces may also be required. For this, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the NDMA have been requested to make necessary advance arrangements to keep the concerned authorities in readiness for deployment of IAF helicopters/ NDRF force on short notice, Mohapatra said.
According to the local met office sources, the depression over north Andaman sea moved westward at a speed of 18 kmph and lay centred at 11.30 hrs IST on Tuesday over north Andaman Sea, 1,350 km east-southeast of Paradip.
In its pre-cyclone watch, it said the system would intensify into adeep depression and further into a cyclonic storm by Wednesday. It would move west-northwestwards towards north Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coast during next 72 hours, Met office said.
Under its impact heavy rainfall would occur in many places of Odisha during next 48 hours, it said and advised the port authorities for hoisting storm warning signals. It said squally weather is likely to prevail along and off Odisha coast during and after 48 hours. Since sea would be rough to very rough after 24 hours, fishermen, who are in the deep sea, were advised to return to the coast, the sources said.