The Odisha government, which is already battling the coronavirus pandemic, has made several arrangements to minimise the damage likely to be caused by Cyclone Yaas when it makes landfall in the state on Wednesday.
The government, which has set itself the target of evacuating 7.5 lakh people to safer places before the landfall of Yaas and ensuring zero casualties, has already moved 1.7 lakh people to cyclone shelters in different coastal districts. The evacuation process is on.
Strict Covid-19 protocol is being observed at the cyclone shelters which have been properly sanitised. People taking shelter have been asked to follow the norms of social distancing and wear double masks to rule out the possibility of Covid-19 infection.
“We have instructed the local administration and local people’s representatives to ensure fool-proof evacuation. We are working with a zero casualty mission in mind. More than 7,000 cyclone centres are ready to accommodate the people,” said special relief commissioner P.K. Jena, adding that no laxity will be tolerated during the evacuation process.
The cyclone is likely to make landfall near Dhamra in Bhadrak district on Wednesday morning. The four districts — Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur — are likely to bear the brunt of the cyclone which will hit land in the form of a very severe cyclonic storm.
The government is focusing on dealing with the situation in the aftermath of the landfall. Senior officials have already reached “ground zero” and essential food items have been stocked at the panchayat headquarters.
All the coastal district collectors have been provided with satellite phones so that communication channels remain open during and after the cyclone.
The navy has deployed 12 teams, including four diving teams, to tackle Yaas’s threat.
Personnel of the National Disaster Response Force and Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force, fire-fighting and tree cutting units have already been moved to the vulnerable areas to assist the people and the local administration in relief and restoration work.
As Yaas nears land, rainfall has started across the coastal belt and the wind speed is gradually increasing. Many papaya and drumstick trees have already been uprooted in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.
Seawater has entered land near the Dhamra port (developed by the Adani group) in Bhadrak district.
Around 2.5km away, fishermen have moored their boats securely near the coast at the Dhamra village port. The port is used by fishing trawlers and local boats.
“Since early morning, the wind has started blowing and its speed is increasing by the hour. So far 50 per cent of the villagers have moved to local school buildings. Sarpanches and officials are trying to convince people to move to safer places. We are scared,” a villager said.
A strong gale hit the Rajanagar area near Bhitarkanika National Park in Kendrapara district damaging several thatched houses. Big trees have been uprooted at Dangamal near Rajanagar. “We are frightened. We have already witnessed this destruction before the cyclone makes landfall,” said Dinamani Das, 26, a fisherman of Dangamal.
Yaas is likely to cause extensive damage to Bhitarkanika, Dhamra port, and Paradip port in Jagatsinghpur district. All the ships that were anchored at the Paradip port have been sent to the deep sea.
The central government is also worried about its two defence establishments at the Wheeler Island near Dhamra and the Chandipur integrated test range in Balasore.
In Puri, the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration has asked the Archaeological Survey of India to reduce the number of iron scaffoldings surrounding the 12th century shrine. In 2019, Cyclone Fani, which made landfall in Puri, had caused extensive damage to the temple.
