Cyclone Titli: Odisha govt asks district collectors to remain prepared

Bhubaneswar: Special Relief Commissioner Bishnupada Sethi on Tuesday directed all the district collectors to keep the administrative machinery in full preparedness for impending severe cyclonic storm Titli.

As per the latest information from IMD, the deep depression in the Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards with a speed of 8 kmph during past 6 hours and intensified into a cyclonic storm ‘TITLI’ and lay centred about 530 km southeast of Gopalpur at 1130 hrs on Tuesday.

It is very likely to intesify further into a Severe Cyclonic Storm during next 24 hrs and move west-northwestwards for some more time, then northwestwards and cross Odisha & adjoining north Andhra Pradesh coast between Gopalpur & Kalingapatnam around the morning of 11th October 2018.

Thereafter, it is very likely to recurve northeastwards, move towards Gangetic West Bengal across coastal Odisha and weaken gradually.

The forecast of IMD indicates that due to the system, the sustained surface wind speed may reach 100 to 110 kmph gusting up to 125 kmph on 10.10.18 around 11.30 Hrs and continue up to 10.10.18, 23.30 hrs IST.

Heavy Rainfall/ Heavy to Very Heavy Rainfall/ Extremely Heavy Rainfall is likely to occur in the districts of Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur Kendrapada, Khordha, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Bhadrak, Balasore Rayagada, Koraput, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Boudh, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj during 9th-12th October, 2018. (For details, please see IMD’s Cyclone Bulletins from time to time).

The storm surge of the height of about 0.5 mtr. above astronomical tide is very likely to inundate low lying areas of Ganjam, Khordha and Puri districts at the time of landfall.

Damage to thatched huts, minor damage to power and communication lines due to the breaking of branches and uprooting of trees and major damage to kutcha and minor damage to pucca roads is expected over the districts of Gajapati, Ganjam, Khordha, Nayagarh and Puri.

Keeping in view rough weather likely to prevail much before the landfall of the system, the SRC has requested the collectors to take up the following measures on priority

1. Zero casualty must be ensured.
2. Steps may be taken to identify the people living near the coast in the districts of Ganjam, Khordha & Puri and shift them to safe shelters.
3. Since damage to thatched huts is expected over the districts of Gajapati, Ganjam, Khordha, Nayagarh and Puri, people living in kutcha houses who are likely to be affected by the cyclone shall also be evacuated to cyclone/ flood shelters and other safe pucca buildings.
4. Other district authorities may also assess the situation in their respective districts and take steps to evacuate the people living in vulnerable conditions to safe shelters.
5. Special care must be taken to shift the old, infirm, physically challenged, women and children to shelters much before the cyclone approaches.
6. Cooked food through free kitchen, safe drinking water, health and sanitation facilities must be arranged at the shelters. Lighting arrangement may also be made.

A copy of the NDMA guidelines on Minimum Standard of Relief is enclosed for reference and compliance.

7. Availability of sufficient foodstuff in hostels of all residential schools including those of ST & SC Development Department should be ensured.
8. Provision of food and other essential relief items may also be made for other affected people in need of assistance.
9. All cyclone and flood shelters should be immediately checked and made ready to house the people in case of evacuation. Generator, inflatable tower light, mechanical cutters and other equipment available in shelters should be put to test run.
10. The livestock and domestic animals in vulnerable should be evacuated to safer places. No cattle should be left tied in kutcha house.
11. As instructed earlier, District Emergency Operation Centre and control rooms of the offices of other Departments must operate round the clock.
12. Flood is always associated with the cyclone. Hence, the necessary arrangement to address the flood situation, if any, may also be made.
13. As many as 300 power boats of Special Relief Organisation is prepositioned in different districts. Immediate steps may be taken to see that all power boats with the crew and adequate quantity of POL is ready.

POL stock may also be made for supply to NDRF/ ODRAF/ Fire Services for the operation of their boats and other equipment.

14. As the power supply is likely to be cut off during the peak period of the cyclone, all offices should make their backup power arrangement for that period. Generators available in the different offices including health institutions should be immediately checked and adequate fuel stored.
15. Immediate restoration of road communication for the movement of relief materials to the affected areas is very important.

Necessary advance arrangements may be made through the concerned departments for the restoration of the damaged roads immediately after the cyclone subsides.

16. Steps should be taken to disseminate correct information about the upcoming cyclone among the people and with advice not to panic.
17. I believe fishermen have already been informed about the cyclone and no fisherman has ventured into the sea. This is to continue till the dewarning is issued by the IMD.