Don’t Panic, Says Former CM Naveen Patnaik As Cyclone ‘Dana’ Inches Towards Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The Mohan Majhi government is preparing to tackle Cyclone ‘Dana, which is likely to hit Odisha coast close to Bhitarkanika and Dhamra by October 24-25, taking a leaf out of past experiences.

Responding to situation, former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday urged people not to panic but take necessary precautions for safety. He emphasised on awareness and caution and also called on people to cooperate with the administration in handling the cyclone’s impact.

“Don’t panic upon hearing about the cyclone. We have successfully faced several cyclones together in the past. Our effective disaster management policy will help us mitigate its impact. Please remain alert, prioritize your safety, and cooperate fully with the administration. I urge all elected representatives to stand with the people during this challenging time and provide assistance. I firmly believe that together, we will successfully overcome this cyclone, just as we have in the past,” the BJD chief posted on X.

The UN has praised in the past praised Naveen for his “well-resourced disaster management authority” that saves lives during natural calamities. The 1999 super cyclone disaster, which resulted in over 10,000 fatalities, pushed the then Odisha government to take multiple steps to minimise casualties, destruction. The effective evacuation of almost 1 million people in Odisha ahead of Cyclone Phailin was highlighted during 3rd World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, in 2015. The BJD government was also commended disaster preparedness, mitigation, and rehabilitation during Cyclone Fani as it consistently aimed for “zero casualties” during disasters.