With cyclonic storm Phailin over east central Bay of Bengal on the move and likely to cross between Kalingapatnam and Paradip close to Gopalpur by Saturday evening at a maximum wind speed of 175 -185 kmph, the State Government on Thursday sounded an alert at seven districts more, putting the total number of possible vulnerable districts at 21.
The Government also ordered administrations of the coastal districts to start evacuation of people living in mud houses from the low-lying area close to coast line to safer places by force from Friday to avoid any casualty due to the possible storm surge along with the high tide.
As leaves and puja holidays of officials in all the 30 districts have been cancelled, the offices of the State Government would remain open during the puja holidays. The step was taken to facilitate movement of manpower and materials of neighbouring unaffected districts to affected districts on requisition of the concerned district administration in case of necessity, said Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Surya Narayan Patro after a high-level meeting on preparedness here.
Patro said that since Phailin is likely to hit the State near Gopalpur, the eye of the storm would be centered on Rayagada, Koraput, Nawanragpur, Malkangiri, Kalahandi, Boudh, Phulbani, besides the 14 identified coastal districts.
The costal districts of Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Baleswar and Badrakh would be the most vulnerable areas as far the cyclone is concerned, he informed.