Nabarangpur: A district-level disaster preparedness meeting was held at the Mission Shakti Hall in Nabarangpur, chaired by District Collector Dr. Shubhankar Mohapatra, to discuss heatwave preparedness and mitigation measures for the upcoming summer season. The meeting focused on drinking water supply, electricity distribution, healthcare services, livestock protection, and heatstroke prevention.
The District Collector advised immediate repairs of non-functional tube wells on a war footing. He also directed officials to supply drinking water through tankers in necessary areas. Instructions were given to CDMO (Chief District Medical Officer), DEO (District Education Officer), and the District Social Welfare Officer to stock adequate ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution) packets in health centers, Anganwadi centers, and schools.
It was made mandatory for schools to provide five-minute drinking water breaks during class hours. The meeting also discussed following state government guidelines on adjusting school and college timings to cope with extreme heat. The labour department was instructed to ensure water supply at workplaces and to avoid outdoor work between 11:00 AM and 3:30 PM due to heatstroke risks.
To prevent heat-related illnesses, the transport department was advised to keep a sufficient stock of purified drinking water, first-aid kits, and ORS packets. Every block and district hospital was directed to set up heatstroke treatment centers for immediate medical assistance.
The executive engineers were ordered to ensure uninterrupted power supply to hospitals, health centers, and essential services. Instructions were also given to BDOs (Block Development Officers) and Executive Officers to arrange drinking water kiosks in crowded public places.
Additionally, district-level and block-level meetings were planned for further preparations. Key officials, including Deputy Collector Prakash Chandra Mishra, Additional District Medical Officer Dr. Malaya Kumar Tripathy, Emergency Officer Gitanjali Behera, District Panchayat Officer Padmanarayan Tripathy, and Transport Officer Manoj Kumar Behera, attended the meeting.