The Odisha government has evacuated over 25,000 people from low lying areas and kutcha houses from 11 districts likely to be affected worst by the cyclonic storm Fani.
Spokesperson of the Special Relief Commissioner Krupasinghu Mishra told news persons in Bhubaneswar that evacuation started this morning and as many as 25,425 people have been evacuated from the vulnerable areas of 11 districts by 10.30 pm.
He said while evacuating people priority was given to old, disabled, children and women.
The people evacuated have been shifted to 3,008 multipurpose shelter homes and identified shelter homes equipped with all facilities like drinking water, medicine and food. Mishra said the highest number of 8,172 people were evacuated from Gajapati, followed by Ganjam (6,898), Jagatsinghpur (3,900) and Puri (2,870).
The government, he said, has planned to evacuate around 8 lakh people by this evening. The highest number of 1,95,930 people are targeted to be evacuated from Ganjam, followed by Puri (1,04,481), Khordha (1,08,761) and Cuttack (1 lakh).
Mishra said two helicopters for which, the government has requested to the Centre is likely to reach the state later on Thursday.
Mishra said as many as 12 senior IAS officers have been given the charge of 12 districts and 80 senior OAS officers were rushed to different districts likely to be affected by the cyclonic storm to oversee the rescue and relief operation. The government’s top priority is to ensure zero casualties, he said.
Mishra said under the impact of the cyclone districts like Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur and kendrapara are predicted to have rainfall above 20 cms. After Fani makes the landfall, the districts of Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara will have a wind speed of 170 km to 180 km per hour gusting up to 200 km and in Gajapati. In Khurda, Cuttack, Jajpur, Bhadrak and Balasore the wind speed is expected to be 115 km per hour, according to Mishra. He said the government is fully prepared to meet any eventuality.
As many as 20 ODRAF teams, 28 NDRF teams 525 fire teams have been dispatched to vulnerable areas to help in relief and rescue operation.
Out of 20 ODRAF teams, 18 have been deployed in different districts and two are kept in reserve. Similarly out of 28 NDRF teams 25 have been deployed in different districts and three kept in reserve.
As many as 5.97 lakh polythenes are kept in reserve and 1 lakh dry food packets are being prepared in Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar to be provided to the affected people.
Each food packet contains chuda, gur, candle, matches and ORS packets. The arrangement is also being made for opening free kitchen for the affected people accommodated in the shelter centres.
