Facing Fani

Odisha is no stranger to cyclones. Among all Indian states, it has experienced the highest number of such windy disasters  — close to 100 — in about as many years. Cyclone Fani, with wind speed touching 175 kmph, wreaked havoc on the eastern coast on Friday, uprooting trees and electricity poles and blowing away thatched huts. Thanks to a high degree of disaster preparedness, the Odisha government has managed to minimise the human losses. About 11 lakh people were evacuated from vulnerable areas to safer places within 24 hours before the cyclonic storm struck the state. The maximum evacuations were from Ganjam district (over 3 lakh), followed by Puri (1.3 lakh). It was reportedly a Herculean task for the relief workers as the residents were not ready to leave their houses and belongings. Fortunately, good sense prevailed.

The figures speak for themselves. Around 4,000 shelters, including 880 specially designed centres, were set up to house the evacuees. Over 300 rapid response teams were formed in cyclone-prone areas, besides 936 medical camps. ‘Every life counts’ was the unsaid dictum, and even the unborn were taken into consideration. More than 1,000 women at an advanced stage of pregnancy were shifted to nearby hospitals on priority.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who has turned Odisha into a model state in terms of development, has shown yet again his administrative competence in dealing with a calamity. His leadership has enabled the state to bounce back on several occasions against huge odds and do the rebuilding with a firm resolve. Credit also goes to the National Disaster Response Force, the Coast Guard, the Navy, the Army and the Air Force for undertaking relief and rescue operations in close coordination. The India Meteorological Department did its job well with accurate forecasts and timely alerts, while the Central government has chipped in by releasing over Rs 1,000 crore in advance for the affected states, including West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The response to the catastrophe is a classic case of unity in adversity.