Cyclone Yaas: Evacuation to recover from by night, Odisha Police gear up with high-end gear for rescue ops

By ANI
BHUBANESWAR: In view of the very extreme cyclonic storm Yaas prone to make landfall on the coastal areas of Odisha, evacuation drive is on a battle footing and is predicted to be accomplished by night whereas rescue groups have been deployed with high-end gear to hold out efficient and immediate rescue operations, knowledgeable Y Okay Jethwa, ADGP (Law and Order).

Briefing the mediapersons, the ADGP stated, “To tackle the impending Cyclone Yaas, Odisha Police has been involved in the pre-cyclone measures and post-cyclone rescue operation. The police teams in the vulnerable and coastal districts under the supervision of respective SPs have intensified the evacuation drive. As many as 81,661 people living in vulnerable areas have already been evacuated and sent to cyclone shelters. The evacuation drive will be expedited in the coming hours and by the evening we will finish the evacuation drive.”

On the post-cyclone restoration plan, he stated, “For post-cyclone rescue and recovery, the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) have already been deployed in all vulnerable locations. 55 platoons of Odisha Arm Police are also with them to assist in rescue and recovery work. NDRF and Odisha Fire Service teams are also there. Under the supervision of district administration and SPs, the operations are underway in a coordinated manner.”

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Y Okay Jethwa emphasised that the rescue groups are laced with high-end gear and equipment for immediate and efficient rescue and restoration operations.

“ODRAF teams have been provided with high-end equipment like hydraulic tree cutters, concrete cutters, plasma cutters, gas cutters to effectively and speedily carry out road clearance operations. They have JCBs, cranes and inflatable boats for effective movement. For uninterrupted communication, the teams have been provided with satellite phones and wireless sets. For energy supply, they have high-end 10 KVA generators, tower mast lights and searchlights so that they can effectively and promptly carry out the rescue operation,” added Jethwa.

Considering that the extreme cyclonic storm ‘Yaas’ is prone to make landfall in coastal areas of Odisha on Wednesaday, the state on Tuesday issued a pink alert warning for Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur and Balasore districts, that are prone to be affected by heavy rainfall.

Umashankar Das, Deputy Director of India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Bhubaneswar stated, “A red alert, that is extremely heavy rainfall warning has been issued for Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur, and Balasore for today. The rainfall will exceed more than 20 cm.”

The official stated that an orange alert, that’s heavy to very heavy rainfall is predicted in Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, Cuttack, Khorda, and Puri right now. “The rainfall in the district is expected to measure between 12-20 cm,” Das stated.

The IMD regional Deputy Director additional stated, “We are expecting wind speeds of 150-160 kmph. gusting 180kmph over Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak and Balasore tomorrow as landfall is expected by noon. We have issued the highest danger warning for Dhamra and Paradip ports.”

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Meanwhile, individuals have been evacuated by Balasore district administration and Marine Police Force within the Chandipur space, forward of the cyclonic storm Yaas.

“We are focusing on the evacuation of people from low-lying areas. 1,200 centers to be used as shelters have been sanitized due to the Covid-19 situation. We have health teams deployed at these centers. Power restoration and road clearance teams deployed,” Balasore District Collector Okay Sudarshan Chakravarthy stated.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has directed the state’s dwelling minister to succeed in Balasore right now and stay there to observe the scenario.

It has been predicted that the cyclonic storm Yaas goes to depth right into a ‘very extreme cyclonic storm’ within the subsequent 12 hours.

Cyclone Yaas could be very prone to cross north Odisha-West Bengal coasts between Paradip and Sagar Island round Balasore, throughout midday of May 26 as a ‘Very Severe Cyclonic Storm’.