Use schools, community halls as night shelters for homeless: SRC to Collectors

Bhubaneswar: As the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasted severe cold wave over some districts of Odisha in next 2-3 days, the State government asked districts and municipal corporations to use schools buildings and community halls as night shelter for homeless.

In a letter, the Special Relief Commissioner Office asked the District Collectors and Municipal Commissioners to ensure schools, community buildings and other available buildings are opened for use as night shelter by homeless and needy people in rural and urban areas.

The district administrations and municipal corporations were also directed to send a detailed report to the SRC office indicating the number of buildings that can be used as night shelters and number people sheltered on daily basis till the cold wave condition is over.

The SRC asked the officials to create necessary public awareness campaign with mention of do’s and don’ts to protect people and livestock from cold wave. Movement during night especially in two-wheelers or in open cars must be avoided, the letter added.

The weathermen predicted the following cold wave warning for several districts of the State:

DAY 1 : Valid up to of 8:30 AM of December 22, 2021
Orange warning: Isolated cold wave to severe cold wave condition very likely to prevail over the districts of Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Mayurbhanj, Kalahandi, Bolangir and Sonepur and Boudh.

Yellow warning: Isolated cold wave condition very likely to prevail over the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak. Kendrapara, Jagatsuighpur, Puri, Khordha, Cuttack, Ganjam, Nayagarh, Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Angul, Deogarh, Sambalpur, Bargarh, Nuapada, Kandhamal and Nabarangpur.

Yellow warning: Isolated cold day condition very likely to prevail over the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Kandhamal, Khordha and Kalahandi.

Day 2: Valid from 8:30 AM of December 22, 2021 to 8:30 AM of December 23, 2021:
Yellow warning: Isolated cold wave conditions very likely to prevail over the districts of Angul, Sonepur, Boudh, Bolangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nuapada, Nabarangpur, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Balasore , Bhadrak, Ganjam, Nayagarh, Cuttack and Khordha.

Yellow warning: Isolated cold day conditions very likely to prevail over the districts of Mayurbhanj, Balasore and Kandhamal.

Day 3: Valid from 8:30 AM of December 23, 2021 up to 8:30 AM of December 24, 2021:
Yellow warning: Isolated cold wave conditions very likely to prevail over the districts of Kalahandi, Balangir, Nuapada, Nabarangpur, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj.