Over 3 Lakh People Safely Evacuated, Says Odisha CM

Bhubaneswar: As Cyclone Dana approaches, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced that 1,653 villages, nine towns, and 26 wards across 38 blocks in 11 districts of Odisha are likely to be affected. After a detailed review with district collectors of Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Cuttack, Khurda, and Jajpur at Lok Seva Bhavan, Majhi outlined the state’s comprehensive cyclone preparedness plan.

He shared that a total of 362,000 people are being targeted for evacuation from vulnerable areas, with over 300,000 already safely relocated to cyclone shelters by 11 AM today. The Chief Minister emphasized the goal of achieving 100% evacuation within the next few hours. Additionally, 2,338 pregnant women have been transferred to hospitals and Maa Gruha facilities from high-risk zones to ensure their safety.

To accommodate those affected, the state has operationalized 7,285 shelters, including 842 permanent and 6,443 temporary ones across the cyclone-hit districts. Majhi also noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is closely monitoring the situation and has assured full support from the central government.

In a bid to ensure efficient operations, experienced IAS officers have been deployed to expedite the evacuation process, with nine state cabinet ministers overseeing the efforts in the most vulnerable districts.

During a discussion with the District Magistrates, Chief Minister Majhi directed officials to prioritize 100% evacuation, aim for zero casualties, ensure uninterrupted electricity services in hospitals, maintain adequate fuel supplies, and provide cooked food and clean sanitation facilities at cyclone shelters.

In terms of disaster response, 19 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, 51 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams, and 220 fire brigade teams have been placed on standby. Additionally, 157 police platoons, 92 medical teams, and 58 veterinary teams are ready to assist. The Chief Minister urged citizens to keep pets loose to ensure their safety as well.

Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, and other senior officers were present at the meeting, where district collectors briefed the Chief Minister on the situation via video conference.