Bhubaneswar: July 09: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today released a short documentary film and a report on ‘Police Response to Cyclone FANI – 2019 in 3rd Floor conference hall of Secretariat, Bhubaneswar. Chief Minister lauded the outstanding work done by Odisha Police in all domains & spheres before, during & in the aftermath of FANI by reaching out to affected people in distress and bringing succor to them by all possible means.
The extremely severe cyclone ‘FANI’ made a landfall at 09.30 AM on 3rd May, 2019 at Puri town leaving behind a trail of devastation and damages. Fani was regarded as the most severe cyclonic storm after the super cyclone of 1999. The cyclone directly affected more than 1.5 crore people of 14 coastal and adjoining districts of Odisha. At this hour of crisis, Odisha Police came forward and stood solidly with the affected people. Odisha Police played a vital role before, during and after the cyclone. 24 hours before cyclone, Police undertook massive awareness exercise among the public by using loud speaker, mega phones etc. 24 hours before the impending cyclone, massive evacuation exercise was undertaken and around 1.3 million people were evacuated to designated multipurpose shelter homes. Police also played a crucial role in the management of law and order, road clearance, distribution of relief, in the restoration work etc. Police also provided drinking water, first-aid and medical services to the affected people on war footing during this crisis. An emergency Police Control Room was set-up at SAP Hdqrs, Bhubaneswar for vertical and horizontal co-ordination with the districts as well as other line departments. Dr. R.P Sharma, DGP personally co-ordinated the activities from the Control Room.
Odisha Police also exhibited its humane face during post cyclone, under the banner ‘KARUNA’ where cooked food were distributed to more than one lakh people in different locations of Puri District.
The short film and report has been prepared to document such good work done by Police for the information of all. The good work done and the practices adopted can serve as a reference for the future during any such calamity. The document and short film will certainly be very useful and it will also act as a guide for the Police Officer in the days ahead.
Aditya Prasad Padhi, Chief Secretary, Asit Kumar Tripathy, DC and ACS Home Deptt., ACS to CM, Finance Secretary, all senior officers of Cuttack & Bhubaneswar were present. At the outset Dr. R.P. Sharma, IPS, DGP gave a brief introduction of the programme. Satyajit Mohanty, IPS, Commissioner of Police, Bhubaneswar gave vote of thanks.
