‘Zero casualty’ target as Odisha braces for cyclonic storm
With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirming the formation of a cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal, the Odisha government on Sunday said it is fully prepared and has set a target of “zero casualties”.
According to IMD officials, a low-pressure area is likely to form over the east-central Bay of Bengal and the adjoining north Andaman Sea by Monday. It is expected to intensify into a depression by Tuesday morning, and by Wednesday, it could turn into a cyclonic storm.
On Thursday, October 24, the storm is expected to reach the coasts of Odisha and West Bengal.
Winds of up to 40-50 kmph are likely to prevail along and off the coast of Odisha on Wednesday. The next day, the coast could face wind speeds of up to 90-110 kmph, gusting to 120 kmph, the IMD said.
Even though the path of cyclone, its intensity and exact place of landfall is yet to be identified, the IMD issued heavy to very heavy rainfall warning for Odisha’s coastal and adjoining districts from October 23 to 25.
Odisha’s Special Relief Commissioner D K Singh said districts like Puri, Khurda, Ganjam, and Jagatsinghpur may receive the highest rainfall.
The state government has asked the collectors of coastal districts to ensure that fishermen do not venture into the sea off the coast of Odisha and adjoining north Bay of Bengal until further advice.
As heavy rainfall may trigger flash flood or waterlogging in low lying areas, landslides in vulnerable hilly areas, and damage to kutcha houses, the Odisha government directed the district collectors to identify people in vulnerable areas and to move them to safe locations.
After a meeting of senior Odisha government officials, the Special Relief Commissioner said collectors have been asked to inspect conditions of over 800 multi-purpose cyclone shelters to make them ready to take in people when required and to identify pregnant women with expected delivery within two weeks so that they can be moved to the nearest healthcare centres.
“We have kept a close watch on the situation and taken steps accordingly,” Singh said.
In the past, Odisha has experienced several severe cyclonic storms in the month of October. The super cyclone of October 1999 had claimed over 10,000 lives. Though the government has strengthened its disaster management mechanism, reducing human casualties during Cyclone Phailin in October 2013, Hudhud in October 2024, and Titli in October 2018, these did cause major damage to public and private property.
