Cyclone aftermath

Bhubaneswar, Oct. 28: One of the most calamity-hit states, Orissa has decided to focus on mitigation and measures of disasters such as tsunami and earthquake — especially on October 29.

On the same day in 1999 a super cyclone had hit Orissa’s coastal belt devastating 14 districts, claiming nearly 10,000 lives and crippling the state’s economy. Remembering the disaster, the day would also be observed as the state’s Disaster Preparedness Day and National Day for Disaster Reduction every year. As a part of the measures, an independent body — Orissa State Disaster Mitigation Authority (OSDMA) — the first-of-its-kind in the country, has been established.

Orissa’s way is also being followed by Gujarat, which has set up a similar body. State’s disaster department and the OSDMA, which are planning to observe the eighth anniversary of the 1999 super cyclone tomorrow, have rightly chosen the theme — preparedness. “Natural disasters can’t be prevented, but we can mitigate the impacts by generating public awareness for preparedness,” said the state’s disaster management minister, Manmohan Samal.

On this day, experts would give presentations on tsunami and quakes at the state-level function being organised to observe the anniversary, said OSDMA managing director, N.K. Sundaray. OSDMA is also planning to hold a workshop on October 30-31 to train experts on disaster management after tsunami. Around 30 high school science teachers have been selected for the training.

Experts from OSDMA, United Nations Development Programme, Indian meteorology department, geography teachers from Utkal University and Board of Secondary Education, Orissa, and NGOs that have experience in carrying out relief works would participate in the training.