The Odisha government has swung into full preparedness mode after a low-pressure area over the central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal showed clear signs of intensification.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari chaired a high-level review meeting at the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) in Rajiv Bhavan to assess the emerging threat and review district-level readiness.
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Anu Garg, Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, senior secretaries from key departments, Special Relief Commissioner, senior OSDMA officials, Director General of Police, Additional Director General of Police (Law & Order), and the Director of IMD Bhubaneswar. Collectors of all potentially affected districts joined via video conference.
According to the India Meteorological Department, the low-pressure system is expected to concentrate into a depression by October 24 and deepen into a deep depression by October 25. By the morning of October 26, it is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal. The system is then projected to move west-northwestwards and head towards north Andhra Pradesh and adjoining south Odisha over the subsequent two days.
Minister Suresh Pujari directed all Collectors to keep contingency plans fully updated and ensure complete departmental preparedness. Fishermen who have ventured into the deep sea have been asked to return to the coast immediately, and owners of large trawlers and boats have been alerted. OSDMA has instructed authorities to evacuate people from low-lying and vulnerable areas, keep cyclone shelters ready, and activate emergency response measures.
Special attention is being given to pregnant women whose Expected Date of Delivery is near. They are to be identified and shifted in advance to cyclone shelters or nearby District Headquarters Hospitals and Community Health Centres. The Health Department has been asked to keep medical relief centres, mobile health teams, and hospitals ready with emergency medicines, uninterrupted power backup, and facilities for emergency deliveries. Shelters have also been directed to make special arrangements for drinking water, dry food, and health support for pregnant women, new mothers, and young children.
The state government has reaffirmed its “Zero Casualty” policy and directed the entire administration to remain on maximum alert. Rain is expected to begin in the state from the morning of October 26, with heavy to very heavy rainfall likely on October 26, 27, and 28. For October 27, Puri, Ganjam, and Gajapati districts have been placed in the Red Zone for extremely heavy rain. Widespread rainfall alerts have also been issued for Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Keonjhar, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Kalahandi, and other districts.
NDRF, ODRAF, and fire services have been kept on standby. The administration is continuously sharing updates through WhatsApp and other media channels and has urged the public to ignore rumours and rely only on official information. The state government has stated that it is fully prepared to face the possible impact of the system and has appealed to citizens to cooperate with the administration.
