MALKANGIRI: As many as 1,300 members of Bonda and Didai tribes, designated as particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs), residing in different villages under Mudulipada and Andrahal gram panchayats here were shifted to the Tribal Welfare Department managed Mudulipada Boys High School located close to the Bonda Hill on Saturday.
Around 3000 more people residing in the Bonda Hill would be shifted to schools and other buildings at Mudulipada on Sunday if need arises, said Collector D Prashant Kumar Reddy.
“We have appealed to all people staying in thatched and kutcha houses in inaccessible areas of the district to move to nearby cyclone shelters. The message is being spread through public announcement systems to make people aware of the possible impact of the cyclone,” he said. Free kitchen has been started at Mudulipada Boys High School.
Similar measures have been made in the cut-off area across the Chitrakonda reservoir and officers of the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) entrusted with the job of ensuring safety of the inhabitants there.
“However, in the absence of mobile connectivity in these cut-off villages, we are facing problem in coordinating with officials there,” Reddy informed.
Personnel of the ODRAF and NDRF have been deployed at vulnerable places and fire brigade staff were on standby at Kudumulguma, Padia, Chitrakonda, Balimela and Malkangiri.