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SIDR threat puts State on high alert

BHUBANESWAR: The government on Tuesday put its different wings on ready-to-act mode in view of the formation of a very severe cyclonic storm (SIDR) over southeast Bay of Bengal, some 850 km from its coast.

SIDR was moving in a north north-westerly direction and could come closer to the State’s coast by Thursday, the Orissa State Disaster Mitigation Authority (OSDMA) said here. “Morning’s very severe cyclonic storm over south-east Bay of Bengal moved in northerly direction and lay centred at 14.30 hours IST of Tuesday over southeast Bay of Bengal at about 850 km south southeast of Paradeep,” S.C. Sahu, Director of the Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre, said.

He said the system was likely to intensify further and move in a north north-westerly direction. Under its influence, wind speed could reach 150 km per hour, met office sources said.

On Monday, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) had advised all revenue divisional commissioners and district Collectors to remain fully alert and take all precautionary measures to meet the situation.

As the system was coming closer, the SRC on Tuesday directed the School and Mass Education Department to keep all school buildings-cum-cyclone shelters in cyclone-prone districts open for giving temporary shelter to persons till the cyclone threat was over.

One of the teachers should be present in school with keys of rooms to facilitate shelter of people and necessary lighting arrangement may be made in schools, the SRC said.

The Revenue and Disaster Management Department also asked all other departments to put their field functionaries on alert and draw emergency plan to meet possible situation.

“We have already disbursed Rs. 10 lakhs each to six coastal districts to chalk out contingency plan for the SIDR. Though it is not sure if the system would hit the coast, we are all prepared to minimise damage in the event of disaster,” Additional Special Relief Commissioner Gyan Ranjan Das said.

The Transport Department was asked to mobilise vehicles to evacuate people to safer places if SIDR hit the State’s coast.

Mr. Das said besides the government machinery, non-government organisations and community leaders were asked to stay prepared. “District Collectors have been requested to give safety tips to villagers who are vulnerable to the SIDR,” he said.

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