Kendrapara, Oct 23: With Cyclone Dana projected to rip through Bhitarkanika National Park in Kendrapara district of Odisha, special measures have been taken to protect the reserve.
The officials have been kept on high alert with closure of the wildlife reserve for tourists for the next three days from October 23 to 25.
The decision on entry of visitors to Bhitarkanika National Park will be decided after assessment of the post-cyclone situation, said an official.
Special teams have been formed to prevent any intentional or inadvertent entry of people and adequate precautionary measures are being taken to meet any eventuality and minimise damage and loss to the forest and animals during passing of Cyclone Dana through Bhitarkanika National Park, Mangrove Wildlife Division, Rajnagar, DFO Sudarshan Gopinath Jadhav said.
“As there is a possibility of crocodiles moving close to human settlements during cyclone, we have formed two teams to respond to distress calls from locals and rescue the reptiles. One team has been deployed in Bhitarkanika and another in Rajnagar,” the DFO said.
We have formed five teams in coordination with the district administration to deal with any kind of road communication disruption due to felling of trees during the cyclone, he added.
The teams have been deployed in Aul, Kanika, Rajnagar, Pattamundai and Mahakalpada. Besides, a divisional control room has also been activated, while patrolling boats have been moored.
Indian Mereological Department (IMD) director general Mrutunjay Mohapatra said Cyclone Dana is predicted to make landfall between Puri and Sagar Island in the early hours of October 25, bringing wind speeds of 100-110 kmph, with gusts possibly reaching 120 kmph.
