Cyclone Jawad: BMC ready to ensure zero casualties in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar, Dec 3: In view of the possible cyclonic storm ‘Jawad’ which is likely to make landfall in Puri district between Saturday evening and Sunday morning, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) is fully prepared to tackle any kind of eventuality and all set for smooth management of rescue, relief and restoration operation. Asking all the officers to stay alert and prepared, Sanjay Kumar Singh, Commissioner, BMC took a meeting with officials and field staff from all 67 wards in Bhubaneswar and instructed them to identify potentially hazardous and low-lying settlements in their wards and evacuate citizens to nearby schools, cyclone shelters or safer places. Special focus was given on rescue of homeless and beggars who are spending nights shivering under the open sky. Besides, BMC Commissioner Sri Singh further directed all officials to ensure sufficient stock of dry food like rice, chuda (flattened rice), guda (sugar molasses), candles are in readiness and cooked meals at all cyclone shelters. He said all essential workers should be provided with necessary resources to carry on the work efficiently. There are 29 cyclone shelters in South-East Zone while South-West and North Zones have 21 and 22 each. These shelters include schools, colleges and community centres under the jurisdiction of the Civic Body. Necessary information has been issued to the concerned officers of District Education Office and District Welfare Office to remain alert. The BMC Engineering Division has identified 36 vulnerable low-lying areas across the city like Garage Chhak, Sarada Matha Lane, Sriram Nagar, Ratna Villa, Rabindra Garden and Paikanagar and is ready with water pumps to avoid waterlogging during this period. The Engineering wing is on alert at vulnerable water logging areas with required supporting staff, manpower machineries like JCBs, tractors and power cutters and adequate number of Gen sets at different Vaccination Centres, Hospitals and crematorium. Pump sets are ready to support dewatering. Besides, sanitation wing of BMC is also ready with the service providers to provide emergency cleaning and de-silting. To meet any healthcare emergency, Additional District Urban Public Health Officer (ADU-PHO) Shri Antaryami Mishra has been informed to keep their power back up ready at Primary Health Centres and Community Health Centres from their own fund.  Chief Municipal Medical Officer (CMMO) has been informed to ensure adequate stock of medicine, anti-venom and halogen tablet.