Bhubaneswar: The housing and urban development department has directed all urban local bodies across the state to remain on high alert in view of the low-pressure area forming over northwest bay and the adjoining West Bengal–north Odisha coasts. The directive emphasises a prompt, coordinated and citizen-centric response to any emerging situation.Additional chief secretary of the department, Usha Padhee, instructed officials to ensure that all personnel, machinery and equipment are kept ready. Rapid response teams have been asked to remain active in the field, with strict orders that any issue reported from the ground must be addressed immediately and on priority. The focus, she stressed, should be on minimising inconvenience to citizens during adverse weather conditions.As a confidence-building measure, urban local bodies have also been asked to proactively communicate their preparedness and field actions through regular press briefings and social media updates. The department itself should be kept informed of the evolving situation and the measures being taken at the local level, sources said.Padhee further directed the officials to seek necessary assistance from the department and district administration wherever required. She underlined the importance of close inter-agency coordination to ensure effective ground-level response and safeguard public welfare.The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation has also been asked to keep manpower and machinery ready since the city has been recording rain since Sunday morning. It has been tasked with keeping pump sets ready at vulnerable pockets where waterlogging is a recurring issue.
