Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday chaired a review meeting to take stock of the rescue operations following landslides in some districts of Odisha, damage caused by cyclone ‘Arnab’ and the state's preparedness to tackle another possible cyclone.

The Chief Minister chaired the high-level meeting at the office of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) in the capital city here.

The Chief Minister directed all concerned departments to accord the highest priority to rescuing people trapped under debris, tracing missing persons and saving lives in the landslide-affected areas. He stressed the need to expedite rescue operations by deploying advanced technology and technical expertise.

"Public safety and protection of human lives are the highest priorities of our government," Majhi said, directing officials to ensure that rescue operations continue at full speed in every affected area.

Advanced tech to be used in rescue ops

A major development discussed at the meeting was the deployment of the Indian Navy's advanced Seismic Life Detection Unit at the G. Udayagiri landslide site. Arrangements are being made to airlift the equipment to the location by helicopter. The sophisticated system uses specialised sensors and scanning technology to detect biological signals of people trapped beneath soil, mud and debris.

Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), Fire Services and Special Operations Group (SOG) are jointly carrying out rescue operations in the affected areas. The Indian Navy is also being roped in to strengthen the search and rescue efforts, particularly in inaccessible locations.

The state government has also sought assistance from the Railways to facilitate the evacuation of people from landslide-hit areas. Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari held discussions with Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, seeking active support from the Railway Ministry.

The Centre has assured all necessary assistance. The East Coast Railway has initiated steps to urgently dispatch a Chain Pulley System to the affected location to support rescue and evacuation operations.

During the meeting, Majhi also directed officials to ensure an accurate assessment of the damage caused by Cyclone Arnab and restore essential services in the affected areas on a war footing.

Emphasis on restoration work

The Energy Department has been asked to prioritise the restoration of electricity supply, while efforts are also underway to repair damaged roads and restore other essential services so that normalcy can return at the earliest.

Reviewing preparations for the possible approaching cyclone, the Chief Minister directed all departments to remain fully alert and ensure adequate arrangements well in advance.

He emphasised the need to make cyclone shelters operational, identify vulnerable areas and undertake the early evacuation of people wherever necessary. Adequate stocks of dry food, cooked meals, safe drinking water and essential medicines must be maintained to meet any emergency.

The Chief Minister also stressed better coordination among various departments to ensure an effective response to any possible disaster.

Highlighting the importance of communication during emergencies, Majhi directed the administration to provide the media with accurate and verified official information. He also asked officials to thoroughly verify reports and information received from media outlets and other sources before taking necessary action.

He said such measures were essential to prevent the spread of misleading information and ensure that the public receives authentic updates, making rescue and relief operations more effective.

Chief Secretary Anu Garg, Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department Aravind Padhee, Additional Chief Secretary of the Energy Department Vishal Kumar Dev, Director General of Fire Services Sudhanshu Sarangi, Regional Meteorological Centre Director Manorama Mohanty, Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Patil and other senior officials attended the meeting.