Bhubaneswar: As Cyclone Dana approaches the Odisha coast, Director General of Police (DGP) Yogesh Bahadur Khurania chaired a high-level review meeting on Tuesday to discuss preparedness and post-cyclone restoration measures. Held at the DGP’s camp office, the meeting centered on ensuring minimal impact from the cyclone, with the state government setting an ambitious target of ‘Zero Casualty.’
DGP Khurania emphasized the importance of achieving this goal, directing Superintendents of Police (SPs) from all districts to take proactive steps. Key measures discussed included the deployment of police personnel at cyclone shelters, raising public awareness in coastal areas through Marine Police, and facilitating the safe evacuation of people from vulnerable regions.
Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams are being strategically deployed across affected districts to safeguard lives and property during the cyclone. The DGP instructed SPs to coordinate closely with district administrations to streamline rescue efforts and ensure efficient communication.
Senior officials attending the meeting included Additional Director General (Law and Order) Sanjay Kumar, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissioner S. Dev Datta Singh, IG (Communication) Satish Gajbhiye, Additional Commissioner of Police Uma Shankar Dash, and DCP Pinak Mishra.
Additionally, DIGs from the Southern and Eastern regions, as well as SPs from Ganjam, Berhampur, Khordha, Puri, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Bhadrak, Balasore, and Mayurbhanj, participated via video conferencing to ensure comprehensive coordination across the state.
With Cyclone Dana projected to make landfall between October 24 and 25, the state’s police and disaster response teams are working around the clock to minimize the cyclone’s impact and protect the population.