The Jharkhand health department has directed all districts to ensure sufficient back-up for oxygen, electricity, essential drugs at public and private hospitals for the next few days in the wake of cyclone Yaas which is likely to make landfall near Balasore in Odisha, 250km from Calcutta, on Wednesday.

State director of National Health Mission (NHM) Ravi Shankar Shukla has also asked liquid oxygen manufacturers and refillers to ensure uninterrupted supply of oxygen.

“Considering the IMD alerts on the cyclone, ensuring uninterrupted medical facilities amid the Covid pandemic is one of the main concerns of the government. Various arms of the government machinery is already at work on this," said an official of the health department, adding that adequate safeguards have to taken at vaccination store rooms to prevent any damage to the vaccine.

“At the state-level vaccination storage room in Ranchi, back-up in the form of high powered generrator sets is already in place to ensure 24/7 power so as to maintain the cold chain. Districts have been asked to make similar arrangements,” he said.

Various districts, which are bearing the brunt of the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, have begun coordinating efforts to minimize loss of lives and property due to to the cyclone. Following an emergent meeting on Tuesday afternoon, deputy commissioner Chhavi Ranjan announced setting up of a control room (0561-2207784) .

“We have activated different cells for focused intervention as per requirement. For example, electricity department officials in the district have been asked to form quick response teams (QRTs) to attend to exigencies, remove snapped wires, restore power supply, etc. Food supply department will take care of distribution of ration to the needy.”

On Covid hospitals, he said, “We have already asked all refillers to keep sufficient stocks ready for next few days so that hospitals don’t face problems. This apart, at two hospitals—Sadar and Risaldar Baba _ we have kept 48-hour oxygen back-up ready in store to tackle exigencies. Alternative back-up for electricity has been put in place at government hospitals.”

Shelter homes too have been notified at block levels. “People will be kept at respective block-level shelter homes if needed and district food supply department has been asked to make early assessment of the requirements of ration distribution,” said Ranjan.

No vaccination for two days

East Singhbhum district administration has made similar arrangements, but it is suspending Covid vaccinations for the next two days. “Vaccination for 18 plus and 45 plus age groups will be closed for two days from 26 onwards,” read an order issued by the district administration.

Communication lines

The state disaster management department has issued a series of advisories, asking districts to keep alternative channels of communication ready to prevent loss of time in transmitting curcial information. “Besides the regular standard operating procedure for tackling cyclones, we have asked all the districts to activate satellite phones, wireless communication and other alternative sources in anticipation of damage to regular phone connectivity due to the storm,” read ond of the communiques.

As per IMD-Ranchi, Jharkhand too will experience the impact of the cyclone in the form of moderate to heavy rain accompanied by high intensity winds and lightning. All three districts in the Kolhan region—Seraikela-Kharsawan, East Singhbhum and West Singhbhum _ is likely to be affected most.