Bhubaneswar: October 28:
As per the IMD Press Release, Severe Cyclonic Storm “Montha” over westcentral Bay of Bengal moved north-northwestwards, it is about 120 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam (Andhra Pradesh), 200 km south-southeast of Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh), 290 km south-southwest of Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and 510 km south-southwest of Gopalpur (Odisha).
It will continue to move north- northwestwards and cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam around Kakinada during evening/night of today, the 28th October as a severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph.
Eight districts of southern Odisha, Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, and Nabarangpur, which are likely to be the most affected, have been placed under the Red Zone category. Odisha governmnent is well prepared to face the challenges posed by cyclone. Under the leadership of Revenue Minister, Odisha Govt. has taken almost full proof steps to avoid casualties.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday said his government was well prepared to face the challenges posed by cyclone ‘Montha’ and has opened over 2,000 disaster relief centres in eight southern districts for people likely to be impacted by the severe cyclonic storm.
Odisha Chief Minister said 11,396 people have shifted to 2,048 disaster relief centres opened by the state government.
Majhi said this after reviewing the state government’s preparedness at a high-level meeting attended by Revenue and Disaster Management minister Suresh Pujari, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, DGP Y B Khurania, and other senior officials.
The CM said that the state government has taken all precautionary measures to achieve its goal of “Zero Casualty”. He told that the evacuation of people from low-lying and hilly areas is ongoing in eight vulnerable districts: Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, and Kandhamal. These districts may receive heavy rainfall over the next 48 hours, so mitigation plans are in place.
Of the identified 2,693 pregnant women, 1,871 have already been shifted to hospitals as of Monday, and another batch of 822 women in the advanced stage of pregnancy is scheduled to be brought to health centres by Tuesday evening, the CM said.
Majhi said the state government has further augmented preparedness by deploying 153 rescue teams in the possible impact districts as of Monday. More than 6,000 well-trained and skilled personnel of NDRF (5 teams), ODRAF (30 teams), and Fire Service (123 teams) have already taken positions in different districts. The state has also kept more such rescue teams on standby for potential emergencies in the coming days, he said.
The CM said tourists are currently denied entry to destinations like Deomali and Mahendragiri hills, and restrictions are in place on visits to various sea beaches along the coastline.
He said that schools and anganwadi centres are closed in nine districts until October 30 due to the ongoing cyclone situation.
