**Bhubaneswar: ** The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in its November 2018 edition of AAPDA SAMVAAD cover story “Cyclone Titli” has extolled Odisha Government for its preparedness to dampen the severe cyclonic storm’s spirits.
The cover story in one of its paragraphs mentions, “The story of Titli, however, does not lie in what it did. It lies in what it could not do. Despite its ferocity, the number of deaths was contained within two digits”
Also it mentions, “Even as Titli continued to batter out coastline with strong winds speed touching close to 149 kmph, torrential rain and a metre high storm surge, a prepared Odisha administration was all set to dampen its spirits.”
It further mentions, “It had set for itself the target of ‘zero casualty’. Around 3,00,000 people from lowlying areas and kuchchha houses, especially in five coastal districts of Ganjam, Puri, Jagatasinghpur, Khurda and Kendrapara, were evacuated and brought to designated shelters.”
Also it has been mentioned, “Emergency services such as hospitals and power companies were put on alert. Schools, colleges and anganwadis were ordered to shut across the State for October 11 and 12. At least eight trains were cancelled and the Khurda Road (Odisha) – Vizianagaram (Andhra Pradesh) section was closed for trains on the day of expected landfall. Fishermen were warned not to venture out to the sea. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams were put on standby and armed forces alerted for providing immediate assistance, if needed.”
“The government was also closely monitoring rainfall in Bansadhara and Rushikulya river basins in southern parts of the where the cyclone is likely to have more impact. District administrations were on high alert; control rooms were set up. Andhra Pradesh had put up similar preparedness measures in place,” mentions too the cover story.
Also praising simultaneously the Andhra Pradesh Government and the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), NDMA’s AAPDA SAMVAAD cover story mentions, “With the IMD accurately predicting its path and ferocity well in advance, a pro-active government machinery timely putting preparedness and mitigation measures in place, and the indefatigable spirit of the affected people, the States picked up their pieces and were up and running within a few days.”
“Due to effective strategies adopted during the preparatory phase, the States ensured unified action by multiple agencies and speedy mobilization of additional rescue teams, relief material and equipment, and restored normalcy within a short span of time,” observes the NDMA.
It has also been mentioned, “During October 2018, two very severe cyclones were formed on the two sides of the Indian mainland – Luban in the Arabian Sea (7-13 October) and Titli in the Bay of Bengal (6-14 October) – in what the India Meteorological Department called one of the ‘rarest of rare’ occurences given the unique movement of both these cyclones.”
It has been reported, “It struck with full force. It killed 93 people – 77 in Odisha, including those gone missing – Gajapati (52), Ganjam (19), Kandhamal (02), Keonjhar (01), Nayagarh (01), Angul (01) and Cuttack (01) and 16 in Andhra Pradesh – Srikakulam (14) and Vizianagaram (02). It affected more than 60 lakh people in Odisha and more than 14 lakh in Andhra Pradesh.”
In his reactions, senior BJD MLA and former minister Debi Prasad Mishra said, “In the wake of Super Cyclone debacle, Odisha is role model in disaster preparedness. The model of State Disaster Management Authority has been adopted at the national level and thus National Disaster Management Authority has also been formed.”
“This agency of the Central Government has praised Odisha for minimizing the rate of casualty due to effective steps. Where it (Cyclone Titli) was beyond control, it had its devastating effects as it is natural calamity and can’t be controlled,” he remarked.
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