Cyclone Dana has hit the peak tourist season in Odisha’s Puri. Odisha Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari has advised tourists at Puri to vacate the city and has also asked tourists to cancel any bookings for the next four days. Pujari has also instructed hotels and lodges in Puri not to accept any advance booking for the next four days.
Cyclone Dana is predicted to hit the Odisha coast by Wednesday night. The Odisha administration has taken precautionary steps in order to avoid any casualties.
Puri, being one of the holiest places attracts most tourists around this time of the year and additional precautions are being taken to ensure tourists remain safe. Looking into the severity of the cyclone, many tourists and devotees are leaving the city and going to a safer city or returning to their native states.
Long waiting queues could be seen at the bus stand and Puri Railway Station even as the administration is also arranging for the safe evacuation of tourists from Puri. The administration has also ensured that people don’t venture into the beach. Additional patrolling has been underway and more lifeguards have been deployed at the Puri beach.
The evacuation is being monitored by the district administration and police department.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has reviewed cyclone preparedness measures and emphasised the priority of achieving zero casualties. The CM directed the relevant district collectors to ensure the safe return of fishermen currently at sea. All district collectors have been instructed to intensify cyclone preparedness efforts. In anticipation of the cyclone, the state government has cancelled leave for all government employees and mandated that they remain within their respective district headquarters during this period.
Majhi also spoke to Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding an update on Cyclone Dana and the state government’s preparedness for pre- and post-cyclone scenarios. The central government has assured necessary cooperation to tackle the situation and agreed to provide additional NDRF teams with a helicopter. The helicopter will be stationed at Bhubaneswar airport for deployment where required.
Cyclone Dana is likely to cross Odisha and West Bengal between Puri and Sagar Island during October 24 night and October 25 morning. Wind speeds off the Odisha-West Bengal coast are expected to reach 60 km/h from October 23, increasing to 120 km/h from October 24 night to October 25 morning. The weather agency has advised fishermen of West Bengal and Odisha to remain off the sea on October 23.
Comments
0 comment