Sambalpur: The district administration on Saturday geared up to tackle possible flood during the coming monsoon and take up relief and rescue operations in the headquarters town and other places.

The administration gets prepared every year for the possible flood in the district, as several places are located on the banks of Mahanadi. In 2014, the district, especially Sambalpur town, had experienced the worst-ever floods, in which thousands of family became homeless.

The administration has decided to open "emergency control rooms" in Sambalpur town, apart from sub-divisional towns such as Kuchinda and Rairakhol and all the nine blocks from June 1. A high-power natural disaster committee meeting was held on Thursday. The administration has released toll-free telephone Nos (1077 and 0663-2412406) for the public to contact for providing information and any kind of help and relief.

Special alert was issued to the officials and employees of the government agencies, including those of the Sambalpur Municipal Corporation, to be ready to take quick action in case of emergency and operate the sluice gates fixed at Balibandha and Binakhandi for the release of floodwater to the Mahanadi from town. More so, additional pump sets will be ready to set up on the ring road on the Mahanadi embankment.

"We have directed the officials to work in co-ordination with various departments to meet any kind of situation during the emergency," said district emergency officer Sanjeev Pujari.

Medical officers and health teams will be ready to open temporary camps in the affected areas with essential medicines. Besides, special instructions have been issued to keep medicines to check epidemic and treat the snakebite cases. Similarly, the animal resources development department has been alerted to keep medicines and fodders for the animals. The public works and water resources departments have been directed to repair their respective damaged roads before monsoon. The food and civil supplies department will keep sufficient stocks of dry food such as chuda, gud (molasses) and breads for the affected people, Pujari said.

Boats and boatmen will be kept in ready to rescue the affected people, he said.