Bhubaneswar: The State government has decided to train people regarding alertness for lightning and other natural calamities in vulnerable districts. In the first phase, the training programme will be held in 10 lightning-prone districts including Mayurbhanj, Ganjam, Keonjhar, Balasore, Cuttack, Sundargarh, Nabarangpur, Jajpur, Balangir, Koraput.
Subsequently, this program will be extended to all other districts.
It was decided at the 36th management committee meeting of Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA). The meeting was held at Lok Seva Bhavan under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena.
The meeting discussed the implementation of a disaster management preparedness plan at block, panchayat and village level. The meeting focused on dealing with natural calamities like floods and cyclone and managing calamities like lightning.
Similarly, discussion was also held regarding the lightning arrester system in all the schools. Teachers will make students aware of lightning. The chief secretary emphasized on special measures to conduct fire alarm system in schools.
He also stressed dealing with sudden disasters like earthquakes, drowning, snakebites and instructed officials for necessary action. Maintenance and repair of flood and cyclone shelters were also featured in the meeting.
Operation of lightning protection system in all shelters, installation of tower lights, and sending messages to the public through mobile phones regarding lightning were also a subject in the meeting. Capacity-building training for all government employees in disaster management, disaster forecasting, and early warning system was also a part of the meeting.
