Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has directed all district Collectors to implement precautionary measures to minimise potential damage to life and property ahead of the expected landfall of Cyclonic Storm ‘Arnab’, with a focus on public safety, crop protection, flood management and the uninterrupted delivery of essential services.
In a letter issued on Monday, Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Patil instructed district administrations to strictly implement contingency measures based on impact assessments and safety advisories issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The directives call for comprehensive preparedness to protect vulnerable houses, safeguard agricultural crops, maintain essential services and address the risks of urban flooding during the cyclone.
District Collectors have been asked to issue advisories to farmers to minimise damage to plantations, horticultural crops and standing crops. Special precautions have been recommended for banana and papaya plantations, which are particularly vulnerable to strong winds.
Authorities have also been directed to secure loose structures and alert residents about outdoor objects that could become dangerous projectiles during high winds. People living in huts and kutcha houses vulnerable to wall collapse have been advised to shift to safer locations wherever necessary.
The district administrations have further been instructed to monitor vulnerable roads and keep materials ready for emergency repairs and stabilisation.
Emergency teams equipped with mechanical cutters will be deployed to clear uprooted trees and broken branches blocking roads to facilitate the movement of vehicles and ensure the swift restoration of essential services.
The administration has also been directed to coordinate with electricity and telecommunications agencies for the prompt isolation and repair of damaged power and communication lines. Engineering teams have been asked to strengthen vulnerable river and coastal embankments to minimise the risk of damage.
In view of the possibility of waterlogging in low-lying areas and flooding of urban roads, the authorities have been instructed to make adequate dewatering arrangements and enforce traffic restrictions wherever required.
Urban underpasses vulnerable to flooding must be closed in time to prevent vehicles from becoming trapped, the directives said.
The public has been advised to check traffic updates and route advisories before travelling and avoid roads prone to severe waterlogging. Traffic police and transport agencies have also been asked to prepare for poor visibility during heavy rainfall.
Hilly areas and high-gradient terrain will be monitored for possible landslides, mudslides, landslips and ground subsidence.
As part of the safety measures, the Special Relief Commissioner has directed the suspension of marine and inland water transport, along with restrictions on the movement of small vessels, commercial trawlers and fishing boats.
Commercial activities along the coast and offshore, as well as coastal tourism and recreational operations, are to be regulated in accordance with safety requirements. Regional helicopter services will also be monitored and restricted wherever necessary to prevent weather-related hazards.
The government has asked district administrations to widely publicise safety instructions through local media, public address systems and field-level officials.
Residents have been advised to remain indoors, keep doors and windows securely closed, avoid unnecessary travel and move to safer locations whenever required. They have also been warned against taking shelter under trees during the storm.
The advisory outlines precautions to be taken during lightning, including avoiding contact with concrete floors and walls, moving away from open water bodies, unplugging electrical and electronic appliances where it is safe to do so, and staying away from metallic and other conductive objects.
Emphasising the need for coordinated action, Patil directed the administrative machinery to remain fully alert and ensure close coordination among departments and field personnel.
District Collectors have been asked to ensure effective implementation of all precautionary measures to minimise the potential impact of the cyclone and protect residents, infrastructure and essential services.
