Bhubaneswar, May 03: The state of Odisha in India is on high alert as it prepares for Cyclone Mocha, which is expected to hit in the coming days. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik chaired a meeting on May 2 to discuss the state’s readiness to handle the challenges that may arise if the cyclone hits Odisha.
Patnaik urged officials to work with district administrations and emphasized the unpredictable nature of the path of a summer cyclone. He recalled the devastation caused by Cyclone Fani in Puri and the coastal region of the state in May 2019.
Special relief commissioner Satyabrata Sahu informed the media that the state is on high alert in accordance with the chief minister’s instructions. As many as 20 teams from the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force and 17 from the National Disaster Response Force have been kept on standby.
A control room has also been set up, and the state has contacted the India Meteorological Department regarding the potential cyclone’s formation.
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According to the IMD, a low-pressure area is expected to form over the Bay of Bengal this week, and by around May 6, a cyclonic circulation is likely to form over the southeast Bay of Bengal. Sahu stated that “a low-pressure area is likely to form over the same region under its influence during the subsequent 48 hours.”
The state is taking all necessary measures to ensure that the impact of the cyclone is minimized. This includes evacuation plans, relief measures, and arrangements to restore essential services as quickly as possible.
The state has also asked fishermen not to venture into the sea during this time and has advised people living in vulnerable areas to remain indoors until the danger passes.
The state has faced numerous cyclones in the past, and it has developed robust disaster management capabilities to deal with such situations.
The state government is working closely with local authorities and relief agencies to ensure that all necessary measures are in place to protect the lives and property of people in the affected areas.
