Cyclone Yaas: Disaster response force makes highest-ever deployment in Odisha

BHUBANESWAR: National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) director general Satya Narayan Pradhan, who is from Odisha, speaks to Debabrata Mohapatra on cyclone Yaas preparedness and challenges.
Only a few days ago it was Tauktae, now it is Yaas. It must be very hectic for your personnel?
Back to back cyclones on different coasts have kept us on our toes. The situation is more challenging during the deadly Covid second wave. Just as we were busy with post-Tauktae restoration work in Gujarat, comes Cyclone Yaas. We had to depute our personnel overnight in Odisha and West Bengal from different states.
How is your preparedness for Yaas compared to cyclone Fani in 2019?
Apprehending the severity of Yaas as has been predicted by the IMD, we have made an unprecedented and highest-ever deployment of NDRF personnel in Odisha this time. In 2019, we had stationed 50 teams in the state. To tackle cyclone Yaas, we have mobilized 52 teams (more than 2,000 personnel) in Odisha. In West Bengal, we have deployed 45 teams. They are working in coordination with the state governments to sensitize and evacuate people.
How do you see Odisha’s disaster preparedness?
Odisha government has learnt well after the catastrophic Super Cyclone in 1999. Based on early cyclonic warning system, the government has been laying stress on massive evacuation to ensure zero casualty. Evacuation is no doubt the first line of defence in disaster response, but it is not the ultimate solution. Fool-proof disaster-resilient plan and infrastructure are the key to tackle calamities.
Your take on disaster-resilient cities in India...
Some efforts were made by the Tamil Nadu government in the wake of the deadly tsunami. To avoid damage to the electricity lines during natural calamities, the Tamil Nadu government had gone for underground cable lines. The Andhra Pradesh government, too, has some disaster-resilient buildings. The Centre is now planning to develop disaster-resilient cities, towns and villages in coastal areas in the country. Since climate change and rising temperature on the sea surface has been triggering frequent cyclones and surge in waves, we have to plan and start developing disaster-resilient infrastructure.
Any plan to further improve the NDRF base in Odisha?
There are some plans in the pipeline. We are planning to set up a diving and underwater rescue training centre of national standard in Odisha. We have initially discussed this with special relief commissioner P K Jena, who has assured us cooperation from the government side.
Is there any plan to induct women combatants and rescuers in Odisha?
As of now our battalion at Mundali in Odisha does not have any women personnel, though we have more than 200 all-woman rescue teams in some other states. But the process has already started and the day is not so far when our unit in Odisha will have women personnel.
Apart from rescue and evacuation, what are the other specialisations of NDRF personnel?
We have reoriented our personnel for post-disaster restoration work. After the Fani onslaught in 2019, our personnel played a key role in assisting the state government to restore electricity in Puri and Bhubaneswar. Every NDRF member has been trained as first medical responder. They are good at stabilizing patients before shifting them to hospitals and facilitated safe delivery of at least 20 babies at different places in the recent past.