A Super Cyclone acts as Odisha’s cue to acing disaster management
By Debi Mohanty
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Over the years, the OSDMA has gone from strength to strength. And in the process Odisha has carved out a standalone identity as the best-equipped state to manage disasters. It’s considered as a role model, in India and internationally as well, for efficient preparedness and swift response to disasters.
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However, the coastal state has not only managed the disasters efficiently, but has also succeeded in reducing fatalities to double digits. While Phailin affected over 1.1 million people and caused damages of approximately ₹4,240 crore, the ‘rarest of rare’ summer cyclone Fani’s gusty winds of close to 200 km wreaked havoc in 14 districts, resulting in an estimated damage of over ₹24,176 crores. Armed with the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) accurate cyclone warning system well in advance, the state carried out massive evacuation measures before cyclones. In case of Fani, the total evacuation number crossed a record 1.4 million. The death toll due to Fani stood at 64.
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