BHUBANESWAR: National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) manager general Satya Narayan Pradhan, who’s from Odisha, speaks to Debabrata Mohapatra about cyclone Yaas preparedness and challenges. Just a couple of days back it had been Tauktae, today it’s Yaas. It has to be quite hectic to the personnel?Back to rear cyclones on various coasts have kept us on our feet. The situation is somewhat harder throughout the mortal Covid next wave. As we were occupied with post-Tauktae restoration job at Gujarat, comes Cyclone Yaas. We needed to depute our employees promptly in Odisha and West Bengal from other nations. What’s your preparedness for Yaas in comparison to cyclone Fani at 2019? Apprehending the harshness of Yaas as was called from the IMD, we’ve made an unparalleled and highest-ever installation of NDRF employees in Odisha that moment. In 2019, we’d stationed 50 teams from the nation. To handle cyclone Yaas, we’ve mobilized 52 teams (over 2,000 employees ) from Odisha. In West Bengal, we’ve deployed 45 teams. They’re now working in coordination with all the state authorities to flee and detain people. How can you determine Odisha’s tragedy preparedness?Odisha authorities has learnt well following the devastating Super Cyclone in 1999. According to ancient cyclonic warning program, the government was putting stress on huge evacuation to guarantee zero casualty. Evacuation isn’t a doubt the very first line of defence in crisis response, however, it isn’t the ultimate answer. Fool-proof disaster-resilient infrastructure and plan will be the secret to handle calamities. Your take on disaster-resilient towns in India. . .Some attempts were made from the Tamil Nadu authorities in the aftermath of the deadly tsunami. To prevent damage to the power lines through natural calamities, the Tamil Nadu government had gone for underground cable lines. The Andhra Pradesh government, also, has several disaster-resilient buildings. The Centre is currently planning to create disaster-resilient cities, towns and cities in coastal regions in the nation. Since climate change and increasing temperatures on the ocean surface has been tripping frequent cyclones and spike in waves, so we must plan and begin creating disaster-resilient infrastructure. Any strategy to further enhance the NDRF foundation in Odisha?There are several programs in the market. We’re planning to establish a diving and underwater rescue coaching center of federal benchmark in Odisha. We’ve discussed this with unique aid commissioner P K Jena, that has promised us alliance from the side. Is there some strategy to induct women combatants and rescuers at Odisha?As of today our battalion in Mundali at Odisha doesn’t have any girls staff, though we’ve got over 200 all-woman rescue teams in several other nations. However, the procedure has already begun and the day isn’t too much when our apparatus in Odisha will possess girls employees. Besides evacuation and rescue, what will be the additional specialisations of NDRF personnel?We have reoriented our staff to get post-disaster recovery work. Following the Fani assault in 2019, our employees played a crucial part in helping the state authorities to reestablish power in Puri and Bhubaneswar. Each NDRF member was trained as initial medical responder. They’re great at stabilizing patients prior to changing them and eased safe delivery of a minimum of 20 infants at various areas at the recent years.