Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has broken his own tradition of not coming to Secretariat during election. Patnaik on Monday visited the State Secretariat and reviewed the preparedness for the Cyclonic storm Fani which is re-curving towards Odisha coast.
Normally, Patnaik, who happens to be the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president, had never visited the Secretariat during the general and Assembly election process earlier, especially when the model code of conduct is in force. Generally, he stopped coming to the Secretariat the very day when the Election Commission of India announces the schedule for the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.
However, the four-time Chief Minister visited the Secretariat in the evening as soon as the polling for the fourth and final phase of elections came to an end this evening, and reviewed the situation and issued direction to the Chief Secretary to ensure “zero casualty” in case the cyclone strikes the State. He also asked the top officials to remain on high alert to cope with Cyclonic Storm Fani which is re-curving towards Odisha coast.
The Cyclonic storm is likely to intensify into a Severe Cyclonic Storm during next six hours and into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm during subsequent 24 hours. It is very likely to move northwestwards till May 1 and re-curve north-northeastwards towards Odisha coast.
