MALKANGIRI: With the cyclonic storm Hud Hud inching closer to the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh coast, the district administration started making elaborate arrangements to face the impending calamity.
Collector D Prashant Kumar Reddy convened a meeting with officials on Thursday and discussed precautionary measures to be taken before the cyclone hits the State. He stressed on the need to stock essential commodities at various places and action plan to evacuate people to safer places.
Health officials have been instructed to keep sufficient stock of medicines and life-saving drugs in primary health centres. Irrigation officials have been asked to keep sufficient sand bags ready in case of breaches in water bodies. The Collector also directed Southco officials to make alternative arrangements in case of snapping of cables due to heavy wind.Two teams of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force are expected to reach the district on Saturday.
Jajpur Prepared
Jajpur: Gearing up to minimise the effect of the cyclonic storm, Collector Anil Kumar Samal directed all Block Development Officers to make cyclone shelters operational in their areas so that people can be accommodated before the cyclone hits the district.
A circular has been issued to officials to open 24-hour control rooms in all the blocks. District Civil Supply officials have been instructed to keep stock of flattened rice, molasses, candles, match boxes and polythene ready.
Vegetables Vanish
Koraput: With the news of approaching cyclone spreading like wildfire, vegetables have vanished from most of the markets in the district.
Sources said traders have hoarded huge quantity of potatoes and onions leading to rise in their prices. Potatoes and onions are available in a handful of shops in Koraput and Jeypore. The consumers have to pay `30 per one kg of potato and `35 for onion. Prices of brinjal, tomato, cabbage and beans have also shot up to `50 per kg.
District Civil Supply officials on Thursday raided several outlets and godowns and seized 13 bags of potatoes meant for black-marketing in Jeypore.
Collector Yamini Sarangi asked all department officials to remain alert and keep track of the movement of the cyclone.