Bhubaneswar: As the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted that Cyclone Bulbul is likely to trigger heavy rains and strong wind from Friday afternoon, the Odisha government alerted the administrations of the coastal districts.
The special relief commissioner (SRC), Pradeep Kumar Jena, has directed the district collectors of nine districts to remain alert and keep cyclone shelters ready with all required arrangements.
Jena said that the collectors have also been authorised for evacuation of people in low laying areas, if required. The people will be provided food at the shelter as per the relief code during their stay in the camp, he added.
The government, meanwhile, has deployed National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and fire service personnel in nine districts as a precautionary measure.
The IMD has said that gale wind speed reaching 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph is very likely to occur from around November 9 noon along and off Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Balasore and Bhadrak districts for subsequent 12 hours and decrease thereafter.
The union cabinet secretary reviewed the situation arising out of the Cyclone Bulbul through video conferencing on Saturday morning. The SRC PK Jena briefed him about the State’s preparedness. Saturday morning brifing the media after review of preparedness. DG Police BK Sharma , agriculture principal secretary Saurav Garg, panchayati raj principal secretary Deo Ranjan Kumar Singh and water resources principal secretary Surendra Kumar were present.
