Bhubaneswar: Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Yaas which has weakened into a severe cyclonic storm is moving towards north Odisha and is currently located over Baripada, it will further weaken into a cyclonic storm after some time, informed Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Pradeep Jena.
Briefing newsmen today evening, Jena said currently wind velocity is 90-100 KMPH.
Rain is expected in Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar districts and tomorrow rain is expected in Sundargarh district, he added.
The SRC said that while a total of 6.5 lakh people were evacuated to safer places, 1 lakh people have been evacuated in the Mayurbhanj district alone.
Sharing details about the damages caused by Cyclone Yaas, he informed that trees and electric poles have been uprooted in a few places while there has been no damage to telecommunication systems.
He said several villages in Bhadrak and Balasore districts have been inundated due to tidal surge.
While a few electric poles have collapsed, and in some places, a few have slumped, he added.
The SRC informed that work to restore electric supply in Balasore district has started and restoration work is also underway in Bhadrak town. The Energy Department will update on their progress tomorrow morning, he added.
On clearing of roads, Jena said that out of 305 roads under the Works department 295 have been cleared. Similarly, 200 out of over 300 roads under the Rural Development Department have been cleared, he added.
He said seawater has entered into 128 villages in Balasore and Bhadrak districts. Waterlogging has been reported from 84 villages in Balasore and 48 villages in Bhadrak districts, he added.
Restoration work by the Energy Department is underway in Kendrapara district while it has been completed in Jagatsinghpur district, the SRC stated.
He further informed that drinking water is being supplied in some places using generators and water tankers.
Mobile telephone service has not been disrupted, he said. Tree cutting is underway, he added.
Jena stated that damages will occur in Baripada tonight, restoration of the same will start tomorrow.
He informed that in many places permission has granted for digging roads to allow drainage of stormwater.
The SRC stated that rainfall has been reported from Similipal and in some places, flash floods have occurred, however, the situation is not that worrisome.
Preliminary damage assessment reports are expected at 48-72 hours, he said.
Jena informed that the Chief Minister had enquired about the damages and progress of restoration work.
The Chief Minister has directed for drawing up an action plan for restoration of power supply infrastructure and regular health check-up of those people who had been evacuated, he said and added that the CM has directed that they should be tested for Covid.
On the casualties during the cyclone, the SRC informed that as per the Collector’s report one person died when a tree fell on him while he had gone to check his house in Balasore district and in Keonjhar district another person died when a tree fell on him while he had gone to a temple to offer puja. In the Keonjhar case, things will be clear after receipt of the report from the Collector, he clarified.