BHUBANESWAR: As the
India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted timely arrival of monsoon,
mock drill on management of flood and cyclone will be held on June 19 in all the districts.
Heading a meeting to review preparedness of various departments on flood and cyclone, chief secretary
AP Padhi on Thursday directed to conduct the mock drills in all 879-multipurpose cyclone and flood shelters in the state during which volunteers will take part in disaster management drills. Members of the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force, (ODRAF), fire services, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), elected PRI members and local NGOs will participate in the mock drill.
Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) sources said doppler weather radars are functioning at Paradip and Gopalpur that help for tracking and forecasting cyclone. These radars also help in forecasting tornado, thunderstorm and hail-storm. To get region specific information on rainfall, thunderstorm/hailstorm/lightning, the chief secretary directed SRC Bishnupada Sethi to discuss with IMD for installation of Doppler Radars at Sambalpur and Balasore.
The cyclone warning dissemination systems in the state have been upgraded to Digital Cyclone Warning Dissemination Systems (DCWDS) and 21 new DCWDS have been installed in coastal districts. Besides, 177 automatic rain gauge stations and 37 automatic weather stations have been installed.
“To tackle any disaster, there are 20 ODRAF units set up across the state which are ready for deployment for rescue and relief operation during flood and cyclone. As many as 317 fire stations are equipped with required search and rescue equipment and trained manpower to take up rescue operation. Besides, 11 teams, each consisting of 35 personnel, of NDRF at Munduli in Cuttack district are ready for deployment. Around 300 power boats under State Port Engineering Organisation are in readiness for use in case of flooding for relief management,” said SRC Bishnupada Sethi.
Regarding preparedness, the SRC also said that the satellite phones provided to the district collectors, ODRAF units and key state level officers are being test operated on regular intervals to ensure that the sets are in operational condition. “Toll free telephone numbers 1070 and 1077 at state and district level respectively are functional. Temporary police VHFs will be installed in remote/inaccessible areas prone to floods before the onset of monsoon. The police communication network will also be used in disaster situations, if required. Apart from all these, social media (Facebook, Twitter and Whatsapp) is used for disaster response related communications,” Sethi said.
The
BSNL authorities, who attended the meeting, assured that the necessary arrangements are in place to keep the telecommunication system operational in a cyclone situation.
