SAMBALPUR: Even though no specific alert has been put in place for the approaching cyclone Hud Hud in the district, the administration is prepared to meet any eventuality. Collector Balwant Singh held a review meeting here on Wednesday and took stock of the preparedness in face of the approaching cyclone.
District Emergency Officer Nihar Ranjan Mishra said the 24-hour district control room has already been made operational and the control rooms at sub-division and block level will follow suit shortly. He said the district administration is fully prepared for any exigencies and special squads have been formed to clear roads and pathways in case the storm affects the district.
Mishra further revealed that the Food and Civil Supplies Officer has been asked to stock dry food and relief materials and Chief District Medical Officer directed to open a control room.
Hirakud dam authorities are also keeping a close watch on the movement of the cyclonic storm. With the dam brimming with water to its maximum capacity, Superintendent Engineer Rabindra Kumar Panda informed that the authorities are closely following the Met Department directives even as there is no prediction of heavy rainfall in the upstream of river Mahanadi.
Panda said the cyclone formed in the Bay of Bengal during October generally moves clockwise and towards Jharkhand from Odisha. It does not move towards Chhattisgarh. Hence, possibility of heavy rainfall in the upstream of Mahanadi is unlikely, he added.
Dam sources said currently, the water level stands at 630 feet. The inflow of water into the reservoir is around 13,000 cusecs. All the sluice gates of the reservoir have been closed.