Bhubaneswar: As the severe cyclonic storm ‘FANI’ is likely to cross Odisha coast at Balukhand in Puri on Friday afternoon with maximum sustained wind speed 175-185 kmph gusting to 205 kmph, the State Government has deployed 17 ODRAF units and 25 NDRF teams in 14 districts to expedite the relief and rescue operation.
While two Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) units each has been deployed in Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Balasore, Bhadrak and one each in Ganjam, Khurda, Jajpur, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Gajapati and Mayurbhanj, three National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams each have been mobilised in Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara two each in Balasore, Bhadrak, Ganjam, Khurda and Jajpur and one each Nayagarh, Cuttack, Gajapti, Mayurbhanj, Dhenkanal and Keonjhar districts.
As per the IMD forecast, Ganjam, Gajapati, Khurdha, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Balasore districts are likely to be severely affected due to the cyclonic storm.
Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall very likely over the districts of Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khordha and Rayagada and Kandhamal districts on Thursday while heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur in Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khordha, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Balasore, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanjon Friday.
Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Bishnupada Sethi informed that at least 300 powerboats of Special Relief Organisation have been kept ready with crew and POL for relief operation while all the 879 Multi-purpose cyclone/ flood shelters have been kept in readiness for sheltering people to be evacuated.
Collectors of the coastal and adjoining districts have been instructed to start the evacuation of vulnerable people living near the coast or in low lying areas from Wednesday and complete the process by Thursday afternoon.
