Ganjam Administration Goes on High Alert as Another Cyclone Threat Looms; Collector Orders Swift Evacuation
Manoj Kanta Dash,Odishabarta
Fishermen Advised Against Venturing into Sea from November 2 to 4; Officials Warned of Strict Action for Negligence
Collector ,Ganjam,V.Keerthi Vasan,Directedany negligence or dereliction of duty would invite strict disciplinary action..
officials to treat affected people with the dignity, warmth and affection normally extended to honoured guests
Chhatrapur, October 31: Barely 72 hours after Cyclone Arnab battered Odisha, triggering widespread flooding and misery across Ganjam district, another possible cyclonic threat coupled with heavy rainfall has put the district administration on high alert. With the possibility of fresh flooding and waterlogging on November 2 and 3, the administration has stepped up preparedness measures to prevent further hardship to people already reeling from the recent disaster.
A high-level emergency review meeting was held on Friday at the OSWAN Conference Hall in Chhatrapur under the chairmanship of Ganjam Collector V. Keerthi Vasan to assess preparedness and coordinate precautionary measures against the impending weather threat.
The Collector directed officials to ensure adequate stocks of food, drinking water and other essential commodities in all vulnerable and flood-prone areas. Block Development Officers (BDOs) and Tehsildars were instructed to prepare detailed contingency plans and complete the evacuation of people living in vulnerable locations to safer shelters by Saturday night.
Emphasising that not a single person should be left behind in a danger zone, the Collector directed officials to pay special attention to vulnerable settlements and ensure that all residents are shifted to safe locations well before the weather deteriorates. Public awareness and warning messages are also to be disseminated in every village through loudspeaker announcements.
The administration has been asked to ensure adequate stocks of ration, cooked food, drinking water and generators in every vulnerable village and Gram Panchayat where waterlogging or isolation is anticipated. The Collector stressed that no one should go hungry and directed officials to distribute food and relief materials generously, strictly according to the needs of affected people.
“Every life is precious,” the Collector emphasised, calling upon all officials to work round the clock with dedication and commitment. BDOs have also been instructed to immediately bring any additional requirements at the block and Gram Panchayat levels to the notice of the district administration.
Special instructions were issued for the immediate evacuation of pregnant women and other vulnerable residents to safer locations. In view of the possibility of drinking water contamination due to heavy rainfall and flooding, adequate medical teams and health workers are to be deployed in vulnerable areas.
The district health authorities have also been directed to keep essential medicines and medical facilities ready to deal with possible outbreaks of diarrhoea, snakebite incidents and other waterborne or flood-related health complications.
In view of the possible cyclone, fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea from November 2 to 4 and during any period of adverse weather conditions.
The Collector also directed the authorities to keep National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams ready for advance deployment at vulnerable locations, depending on the situation.
The Animal Resources Department has been instructed to ensure adequate availability of fodder and other essential supplies for livestock and other animals during the emergency.
Expressing concern over the plight of people already suffering from the aftermath of the recent floods, the Collector issued a strong humanitarian appeal to all officials to treat affected people with the dignity, warmth and affection normally extended to honoured guests
He made it clear that there should be no hesitation or shortage in providing relief and assistance wherever required. All officers must discharge their assigned responsibilities with utmost seriousness, and any negligence or dereliction of duty would invite strict disciplinary action.
The meeting was attended by senior officers deputed from other districts, Additional District Magistrates (ADMs) Sachidananda Nayak, Debadatta Panda and Sunil Kerketta, Berhampur Sub-Collector Abinash Kumar and IAS probationer S. Sharanya, among others.
Officials from various departments, BDOs and Tehsildars joined the meeting through video conferencing.
