The district administrations of Dhanbad and Bokaro, which are near Bengal, have geared up for the onslaught of cyclone Amphan, which is expected to hit Bengal on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, the storm lay centred over the west-central Bay of Bengal, about 420km south of Paradip (Odisha), triggering rain in several parts of Odisha.
In Jharkhand, Amphan is likely to cause thunderstorms accompanied with lightning and gusty winds in northeaster parts (Deoghar, Dhanbad, Dumka, Giridih, Godda, Jamtara, Pakur and Sahebganj), northwestern (Chatra, Garhwa, Koderma, Latehar, Lohardaga and Palamau), central (Bokaro, Gumla, Hazaribagh, Khunti, Ramgarh and Ranchi) and southern (Chaibasa, Jamshedpr, Simdega and Seraikela-Kharsawan) districts, though their intensity will vary between Tuesday and Thursday.
On Tuesday, Dhanbad DC Amit Kumar instructed the block development and circle offices of all 10 blocks, Tundi, Purbi Tundi, Topchanchi, Govindpur, Nirsa, Egyarkund, Kaliasol, Baliapur, Dhanbad and Baghmara, to shift those living in the mud homes and the homeless to safer government buildings such as school buildings and community halls.
He also instructed officials to take to necessary steps to safeguard life and property, especially hospitals, as the cyclone is timing with Covid-19.
Bokaro DC Mukesh Kumar gave similar orders to all block development and circle officers of Bermo, Chandrapura, Kasmar, Chas, Gomia, Nawadih, Chandankiyari, Jaridih and Petarwar.
“During cyclonic storms mud structures collapse, so we have instructed the officials to make alternative arrangements in advance and shift people at risk to safer places,” the Bokaro DC said.
“As dry and weak trees often get uprooted during storms, disrupting power supply and traffic, we have asked the forest department in advance to identify such trees and remove them,” added Mukesh Kumar. “We have asked authorities to arrange dry ration, medical kits and plastic sheets for any eventuality and asked the civil surgeon to remain on alert mode.”
The Bokaro administration also issued a 13-point advisory for people, including asking them to stay indoors, keep essential food, medicines and torches at home, not allow children near waterbodies, and avoid overflowing bridges and culverts.