How the Mohan Majhi Government Achieved Its ‘Zero Casualty’ Mission

Bhubaneswar: The stakes were high. Cyclone Dana, projected to cause widespread loss of life and property, posed a massive challenge. Yet, the Odisha government under Chief Minister Mohan Majhi stood firm, vowing to confront the disaster head-on.

On October 21, when the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast the impending cyclone, the state government activated its disaster mitigation machinery. Chief Minister Majhi quickly convened an emergency meeting with ministers and top officials to devise a comprehensive strategy for relief, rescue, and post-cyclone restoration.

All government leave applications were cancelled, and National Disaster Rapid Action Force (NDRF) teams were mobilized from Punjab. Odisha’s own Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and Fire Services, along with a large contingent of volunteers, were dispatched across the coastal districts.

To protect the vulnerable, elderly individuals, children, and pregnant women were evacuated to cyclone shelters and kept under the supervision of trained healthcare workers. The safe delivery of over 1,600 pregnant women in special maternal care units highlighted the government’s proactive approach in handling critical needs.

Nine ministers, including Deputy Chief Ministers KV Singhdeo and Pravati Parida, along with six senior bureaucrats, were sent to oversee ground-level rescue and relief operations in the affected districts. The CM Majhi was seen hopping between key sites all through the Thursday night, ensuring that the disaster response teams were providing the best possible care. Early on Friday morning, at 7 am, he also surprised everyone as he arrived in the state secretariat to review the progress of the relief and rescue work.

In a press briefing on Friday, CM Majhi expressed gratitude to his colleagues, government officials, rescue teams, and the media for their concerted efforts in mitigating the cyclone’s impact. Reflecting on the state’s success, Majhi attributed it to divine protection as well as the rapid, coordinated response.

“By the grace of Lord Jagannath, Cyclone Dana could not inflict significant damage,” Majhi stated. “Our experiences, combined with the relentless work of NDRF, ODRAF, Fire Services, healthcare professionals, and all departments, helped minimize the disaster’s impact.”

The state’s thorough preparations were keys to success. More than 584,000 people were evacuated to 8,322 shelters, securing even the most vulnerable coastal regions. The CM extended heartfelt thanks to the public for their cooperation and adherence to safety protocols, which he noted were crucial to the positive outcome. He also commended the media, whose round-the-clock coverage allowed the government to respond swiftly to challenges before, during, and after the cyclone.

Looking forward, Majhi emphasised swift recovery efforts, instructing district collectors to assess damages to crops and housing so that a compensation package can be promptly prepared. “We’ve directed district collectors to submit their reports without delay. Once received, we’ll finalise the compensation package,” he assured.

Efforts to clear uprooted trees and fallen electric poles were well underway, with power restoration anticipated by the evening. This rapid response underscores Odisha’s resilience in the face of natural disasters, with the successful “Zero Casualty” mission standing as a testament to the unity, strength, and spirit of its people and leadership.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah contacted Chief Minister Majhi on Thursday evening to discuss Odisha’s preparedness and response to the cyclone.