Bhubaneswar: Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Pradeep Kumar Jena has recovered from COVID-19 and has joined office today. The SRC is back at work at a time when Odisha is preparing to face ‘Yaas’, a cyclonic storm that is likely to hit the coast on May 26.
“I am back in office. Getting ready for cyclone which may form in the Bay of Bengal in next few days,” he said.
Soon after joining work post-recovery, Jena convened a pre-cyclone here today. Scientists of the Indian Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, senior officials of the National Disaster Response Force, Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force, Odisha Fire Service, and Odisha Police were present at the meeting chaired by Jena.
The SRC will have another meeting with Collectors, Superintendents of Police, Additional District Magistrates, DEOs and Fire officers today evening to assess preparedness to face the cyclone Yaas, which is approaching Odisha and West Bengal coast.
I’m back in office. Getting Ready 4cyclone which may form in BoB in next few days.Just now I had my first pre-cyclone meeting with @mcbbsr, @NDRF, #ODRAF @odisha_police & @OdishaFire . Will hv next meeting with Collectors, SPs, ADMs, DEOs & Fire officers at 7pm2day. @SRC_Odisha
— Pradeep Jena IAS (@PradeepJenaIAS) May 19, 2021
Following the first pre-cyclone meeting, the SRC said, “By May 25, the low-pressure system is likely to intensify into a cyclone. However, till now, no forecast has been done about position, status and intensity of a cyclone which is likely to occur.”
However, according to the pre-assessment, if the system intensifies into a cyclone, it would proceed north westwards and hit Odisha – West Bengal coast on May 26.
These are still in a phase of assessment. Whether the cyclone would occur or not, nothing concrete has been relayed so far. But based on a model and possibility, we convened a meeting with all preliminary information available. Jena urged mediapersons to report on this responsibly only based on facts from official sources as nothing has been ascertained so far.
“I spoke with Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of IMD and Dr HR Biswas, Station Director, IMD Bhubaneswar and had a detailed discussion on the possible cyclone. We have instructed Collectors of all coastal districts to be prepared in advance,” he added.
