With the formation of cyclonic storm 'Amphan' likely to impact Odisha from May 18, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday put a target of zero casualty before administration, which is in the midst of a battle against COVID-19.
Considering the gravity of the cyclonic storm, the state government during the day urged the Centre to temporarily suspend 'Shramik Special' trains passing through areas falling in the direction of the cyclone.
Since the sea condition will be rough to very rough over south and adjoining central Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea, it warned fishermen not to venture into the sea along and off the Odisha coast from May 18 onwards.
Similarly, fishermen in West Bengal have also been advised not to venture into north Bay of Bengal along and off West Bengal-Odisha coasts from May 18 to 21, and those who are out in the sea were asked to return to the coasts by May 17.
According to the latest India Meteorological Department (IMD) bulletin, the deep depression over Southeast Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood remained practically stationary during the past six hours and rapidly intensified into a cyclonic storm 'Amphan' (pronounced as UM-PUN).
It lay centred over the same region at 5.30 pm on Saturday near latitude 10.9N and longitude 86.3E, about 1,040 km south of Paradip (Odisha), 1,200 km south-southwest of Digha (West Bengal) and 1300 km south-southwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh).
The cyclone is very likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm during the next 12 hours and into a very severe cyclonic storm by May 18 morning.
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It is very likely to move north-northwestwards initially till May 17 and then recurve north-northeastwards across northwest Bay of Bengal towards West Bengal and adjoining North Odisha coasts during May 18 to 20, the IMD said.
Patnaik reviewed the state's preparedness to face the cyclone, which according to the IMD will impact the state between May 17 and 20.
"As always, saving lives is our priority. We should put our best efforts to save every precious human life," Patnaik told top officials and collectors of the 12 districts, which are put on alert following the IMDs forecast.
He had a video conference with the district collectors of Ganjam, Gajapti, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, Cuttack, Khurda and Nayagarh.
Patnaik also directed the district collectors to prepare an evacuation plan keeping in view the IMD's forecast and shift people living in low-laying area and also from thatched and mud houses in order to save their lives during the possible calamity.
In a bid to boost the morale of the district collectors, who are working day in and day out in the COVID-19 management, Patnaik said,"We have in the past faced many very severe cyclones like Phailin, Hudhud, Titli, Fani and Bulbul. We can also handle the challenge now."