Odisha on Tuesday recalled the Super Cyclone that struck the state on this day 25 years ago, battering the coastal region and leaving more than 10,000 dead.
However, learning from experience, Odisha built its own resilience system. October 29 is observed as Disaster Preparedness Day in the state.
The day was observed in the wake of Cyclone Dana which hit the state on October 25. Its speed of 110 km per hour was much less than the 1999 gale. Even then the entire administration was battle-ready, monitoring the movement of the cyclone minute by minute, thanks to the technology available now.
That was not the case when the Super Cyclone hit the state with a speed of 267 km per hour in 1999, leaving the entire administration unprepared. The IMD forecast was not as accurate as today’s prediction.
Recalling the experience, Giridhar Gamang, the then chief minister, told The Telegraph, “We did not have the technology then. We had never expected that such a cyclone would hit the state. The wind hit the state at nearly 267 km per hour.”
Gamang earned the people’s wrath for mishandling the 1999 super cyclone aftermath. The gale blew away the Gamang ministry and he never returned to power again. “There was no electricity for three days. I talked to Chandrababu Naidu, Jyoti Basu, M. Karunanidhi, Sonia Gandhi and others. Phone connections were disrupted. People sent relief spontaneously. We managed the super cyclone with limited resources. We had set up the foundation for dealing with natural calamities in the future. People had no idea what we did during that time with limited resources,” Gamang said.
Odisha has come a long way since the 1999 super cyclone and has developed its expertise in combating natural disasters.
An event was held at Rabindra Mandap, where Odisha showcased its strength in fighting cyclones and achieving the target of zero casualties during cyclones. Chief minister Mohan Majhi said, “Let’s commit to enhancing our renowned disaster preparedness efforts for a safer future. Together, we can take significant actions that will help save lives in times of emergency.
Minister of revenue and disaster management Suresh Pujari said: “Learning from our past, we have built the system. We are a global leader in handling any kind of disaster.”
Officials said the state is reporting minimum losses now as it has built its own institutional framework and enhanced its capacity for response management. “On the strategic side, we have associated panchayats in disaster management,” officials said, adding that the state government also plans to provide disaster management training to the members of Mission Shakti in cyclone-prone areas.
An official explained that the first task that Odisha did was set up the Odisha Disaster Response Force (ODRF).
“We have developed the Early Warning Dissemination Systems (EWDS). Under the programme, 122 sirens have been put up in the coastal districts. They continue to alert rural communities through sirens and voice messages. There are also digital (DRM) radios. In case telephones stop working all these things will come to our rescue,” officials said
“The state is in partnership with RIMES (Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System) Thailand, Earth Networks USA to get early information before a cyclone hits the state. Deployment of doppler radars, building of pucca houses and our scientific mock-drills with community participation is giving the desired result,” officials said, adding that the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) is taking the lead to deal with the situation.
