National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed its eight units in six districts of Jharkhand in the wake of cyclone Yaas sets to hit Jharkhand with heavy rain and storm.
Talking to The Pioneer, Director General of NDRF Satya Narayan Pradhan said that NDRF is in alert mode and the situation is being monitored.
“We have eight units in Jharkhand. Though the State Government sent requisition for deployment quite late but we have made deployment as sought. Two units each have been deployed in East Singhbhum and Saraikela-Kharsawan district whereas in Ranchi, Simdega, Gumla and West Singhbhum one unit each has been deployed,” Pradhan said.
These units may be moved in part to other neighbouring districts if required. These units are part of the 9th battalion of NDRF. One unit consists of 47 personnel trained in rescue operations. These units remain stationed in Jamshedpur, Ranchi and Deoghar.
Asked about the impact of cyclone on Jharkhand Pradhan said that going by weather forecast Jharkhand may be severely hit by cyclone.
“As per the IMD prediction the line of landing of cyclone and the trajectory after landfall indicates that it is moving inside Jharkhand. However, after landing the wind speed is reduced but because of the proximity of Saraikela-Kharsawan, Jamshedpur with Bengal the wind speed will not be less than 100 KMPH. And this speed of wind is strong enough. Earlier the trajectory of the cyclone was towards Jamshedpur but now it is deviating to Saraikela-Kharsawan also,” Pradhan said.
The next two days will be crucial when the cyclonic storm originating from the east central region of the Bay of Bengal will hit Jharkhand. The weather forecast has said that a low-pressure area formed over east central Bay of Bengal will bring storms and heavy rain in Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha. The north-eastern along with central and southern Jharkhand will witness heavy rain and storm on May 26 and next day. The cyclone may continue to impact Jharkhand till May 28 before it weakens.
Rain in fact started on Tuesday evening as Ranchi witnessed rain indicating the next two days will remain stormy.
The State disaster management department has also issued directives to district administrations to make necessary arrangements. District administration has been asked to ensure that people don’t stay in kutcha houses and they should be taken to nearby shelter homes to keep ready boats, plastic sheets.
District administrations were asked to keep force ready to remove fallen trees from the road. Similarly, the electricity department has been asked to immediately correct faults in the supply line. What has worried the state government is the possible impact of power disruption on hospitals, ICU, nursing homes and oxygen generation units.
Almost all hospitals of the State are overburdened with Covid 19 patients and most of them are depending upon oxygen support. While power will be supplied to hospitals through emergency lines, hospitals have been asked to ensure power backup.
Districts likely to be affected by cyclone have been asked to postpone Covid 19 mass testing drive and may evaluate the shifting of patients to a central location where necessary arrangements may be made.
“I had a meeting with the DCs of districts and necessary instructions were given. Other than power, the cyclone can affect water supply and communication lines so these will have to be restored at any cost. District administration can use satellite phones and wireless as an alternative. The Cyclone can bring sudden floods and houses may be damaged. In such cases people will be evacuated quickly and they will be sheltered at a safe place,” said secretary of disaster management department Dr Amitabh Kaushal.
Kaushal added district administration has been asked to ensure that production, refilling, transportation and distribution of oxygen are not affected. Oxygen is mainly produced in the industrial units located in East Singhbhum and Bokaro and East Singhbhum district and as per the weather report East Singhbhum will be the worst hit by cyclone.