Odisha shuts schools and puts rescue teams on alert as Bay of Bengal cyclone approaches

Schools, colleges and Anganwadi centres in five southern Odisha districts will stay closed on October 28 and 29 as the state prepares for a cyclone brewing over the Bay of Bengal. The affected districts are Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri, all bordering Andhra Pradesh.

Official Response

The India Meteorological Department reports that a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal will turn into a deep depression and likely become a cyclonic storm by Monday morning. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi held a review meeting and set a goal of zero casualties. Officials expect wind speeds of 80 to 90 kilometres per hour alongside heavy to very heavy rainfall in the region.

Safety Measures

The government has deployed 60 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force teams, 17 National Disaster Response Force teams and 225 fire service teams for rescue work. District collectors must ready cyclone and flood shelters and move pregnant women and patients to hospitals early. Fishermen cannot go into the sea, while health units must stock medicines and anti-snake venom.

Context

Odisha faces frequent tropical storms from the Bay of Bengal due to its coastal location, making early disaster preparedness a regular necessity for the state administration. Past experience with severe weather has led the state to build robust evacuation systems and preposition rescue teams to minimize loss of life.