Odisha’s government issued a warning on Monday, urging tourists to leave the pilgrim town of Puri as soon as possible. The India Meteorological Department has forecast a severe cyclonic thunderstorm with wind speeds of 100-120 km/h that is expected to hit the Odisha coastline by October 25.
Suresh Pujari, State Revenue and Disaster management Minister, issued the advisory following a review meeting on Monday chaired Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. Pujari told reporters that the tourists who came to Puri to visit the seaside pilgrimage should leave soon, as the district will likely be affected by a severe cyclonic windstorm.
Pujari said the Puri District Administration has also been requested to discourage people from visiting pilgrim town until after the cyclone landfalls as it could cause damages. Puri district officials erected red banners along the beach on Monday, and prohibited anyone from entering the ocean.
In addition to deploying lifeguards, the government used a public address system in order to warn people against entering the sea. Officials said that the administration is worried about high sea currents before the cyclone’s landfall.
The minister stated that October 24th and 25th are two important days for Odisha. He said that the district administration was asked to look after the hundreds of women that have come to the city to observe ‘Kartik brata’. These women are called Habishyali and they visit the Jagannath shrine every day in the holy month Kartik.
Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Paida, who is in charge of the tourism division, has asked the authorities of Odisha Tourism Development Corporation to provide all facilities for tourists who are staying at the state-owned guesthouse Pantha Niwas.
She said that the safety of tourists was a top priority for the government. Pujari also said that officials with prior experience in managing cyclones had been deployed to districts identified as cyclone prone this time.
“The officials involved will assist district administrations in managing the cyclone”
Pujari stated, adding that 24/7 monitoring rooms have been operationalised.
The minister stated that district collectors are empowered to declare holidays for schools, anganwadi and colleges in the districts affected by the disaster until normalcy is restored. He said the Centre agreed to send an emergency helicopter that will be ready at Bhubaneswar’s airport. The minister said it would be used for rescue operations and relief efforts.
In anticipation of the cyclone, the agriculture department of the state has cancelled all leave for its employees until October 25. The department issued a warning to farmers to protect their crops by cutting them at 85 percent maturity.
The Urban Development Department asked local authorities to be prepared for possible water-logging and to ensure that people have access to drinking water and basic necessities during the cyclone.
