Odisha’s Disaster Management Model Draws Interest from Students

Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s disaster management model continues to draw interest from students pursuing disaster management studies, with learners keen to understand the state’s experience in disaster preparedness, early warning and emergency response.

As part of an educational visit, a group of 40 students from Xavier University, Bhubaneswar, visited the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) to gain insights into the state’s disaster management practices and learn from its experience in handling natural disasters.

During the visit, Dr. Kamal Lochan Mishra, Advisor to OSDMA, briefed the students on Odisha’s journey in disaster management since the devastating Super Cyclone of 1999. He outlined the state’s key initiatives in early warning systems, preparedness, evacuation, community participation and the use of modern technology and data to strengthen disaster response.

Emphasising the importance of practical experience, Dr. Mishra said that learning from past disasters is essential to improving disaster management strategies. He encouraged the students to pursue research in the field and explore how emerging technologies can contribute to disaster risk reduction.

The visit was aimed at strengthening the students’ understanding of disaster preparedness and response while encouraging them to play an active role in building a disaster-resilient society.

Odisha’s experience in managing disasters, particularly its focus on preparedness, timely evacuation and community involvement, continues to serve as a learning opportunity for students and those interested in disaster risk reduction.