Odisha Chief Secretary Reviews Heatwave Preparedness, Stresses Strict Implementation of Safety Measures

Bhubaneswar: With intensifying heatwave conditions gripping multiple districts across Odisha, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja convened a high-level review meeting at Lok Seva Bhawan to assess the state’s preparedness, mitigation efforts, and heatwave management strategies for 2025.

The meeting was attended by key officials, including Development Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary Anu Garg, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Deoranjan Kumar Singh, Director General of Police Y.B. Khurania, and senior representatives from various departments.

The review followed Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s March 18 directives, which called for urgent measures to tackle the ongoing heatwave. SRC Singh presented a detailed report outlining steps already taken to safeguard residents, particularly in the most vulnerable regions.

Chief Secretary Ahuja stressed the importance of district-level monitoring, directing District Collectors to ensure effective implementation of heatwave mitigation strategies. He reviewed the availability of drinking water, emergency relief measures, and overall preparedness, with a special focus on the most heat-affected districts, including Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Balangir, Sonepur, and Bargarh.

Instructions were given to collect real-time updates from panchayat and block levels, ensuring district authorities maintain constant oversight and swift response mechanisms.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD), Bhubaneswar Regional Centre, presented its heatwave assessment for March, highlighting recorded temperatures and forecasting severe heat conditions across coastal and interior Odisha from April to June.

The Chief Secretary directed strict adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for heatwave management and tasked the Special Relief Commissioner with compiling all SOPs into a single document for seamless coordination across all districts.

To enhance public awareness, Ahuja instructed the Information and Public Relations Department to intensify media campaigns, educating people on heatwave safety measures, hydration, and emergency protocols.