Latest news with #OdishaDisasterRapidActionForce
Time of India
27-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Breaking News Live Updates: Cambodia foreign minister to discuss Thai ceasefire with Rubio: PM
27 Jul 2025 | 07:01:19 AM IST Breaking News Live Updates: Cambodia foreign minister to discuss Thai ceasefire with Rubio: PM Breaking News Live Updates: Cambodia foreign minister to discuss Thai ceasefire with Rubio: PM. Artillery heard on Thai-Cambodian border despite ceasefire call, reports AFP journalists. Israel said Saturday that it air dropped aid into the Gaza Strip and would open humanitarian corridors, as it faced growing international condemnation over the deepening hunger crisis in the Palestinian imposed a total blockade on Gaza on March 2 after ceasefire talks broke down. In late May, it began allowing a small trickle of aid to Israel announced the delivery of seven aid packages, the United Arab Emirates had said it would restart aid drops and Britain said it would work with partners including Jordan to assist decision to loosen the flow of aid came as the Palestinian civil defence agency said over 50 more Palestinians had been killed in Israeli strikes and shootings, some as they waited near aid distribution centres. Additional Collector Sudhakar Naik said, "There is a flood in the Jalka river today. As a result, the Basta block has been affected. Four areas of the block are being vacated... Cooked food was provided to around 260 people. Three fire brigades and two Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force have been deployed there. 22 people and 15 animals have been rescued... There has been no loss of life or property... The water of the Jalka River is not expected to increase tomorrow. We are anticipating a flood in the Subarnarekha River tomorrow. It could reach the danger level... We are prepared for it..." Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday said he felt deeply honoured to have been described as a 'cow devotee' by Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand, calling it a significant spiritual recognition and a matter of collective about a past event organised by the Shankaracharya in Mira Bhayander during his tenure as Chief Minister, Shinde recalled, "When I was the Chief Minister, Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand had organised an event in Mira Bhayander... He had said that my name would be written in their scriptures as a cow devotee, and this is a matter of great fortune for me."Shinde described Shankaracharya's remark as a "blessing" and said such words from a spiritual leader of high stature carried great significance. "This is not only my pride but also the pride of the entire Maharashtra," he added. At least 11 people were stabbed at a Walmart in Traverse City on Saturday — with six in critical condition — in what the sheriff said appeared to be a random act. A suspect was in custody, authorities said.'Eleven is 11 too many, but thank God it wasn't more,' Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea told vehicles and uniformed first responders were seen outside the store following the DeFell, 36, who lives in Honor, about 25 miles from Traverse City, said she was in the parking lot when she saw chaos erupt around her.'It was really scary. Me and my sister were just freaking out,' she said. 'This is something you see out of the movies. It's not what you expect to see where you're living.'Munson Healthcare said via social media that 11 people were being treated at the region's largest hospital in northern Michigan. Spokesperson Megan Brown said all were stabbing victims. Six were critical and five were in serious condition late Saturday, she said. Defence PRO Col Nishant Arvind said, "Bofors demonstrated its effectiveness in the 1999 Kargil War. It is still an essential part of our artillery inventory... The Dhanush is a 155mm, 45-calibre gun. Due to its longer barrel, it has a greater range than the Bofors. We also improved the muzzle brake on it. We also introduced an automatic laying system in it, which made our laying faster and more accurate. Now we have moved from mass fire to precision fire. Our arms and services are introducing new things in their equipment profile while incorporating 'Aatmnirbharta', which is improving our firing, surveillance, and logistics capabilities. ( Cambodia foreign minister to discuss Thai ceasefire with Rubio: PM. Artillery heard on Thai-Cambodian border despite ceasefire call, reports AFP journalists.
Time of India
25-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Mock exercise conducted at Jeypore airport
Koraput: As part of the mandatory safety preparedness protocol and in compliance with Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) guidelines, a full-scale emergency mock exercise was conducted at Jeypore airport on Friday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The aim was to assess the airports emergency response capabilities, inter-agency co-ordination, communication efficiency, resource deployment, and effectiveness of the airport emergency plan (AEP), said Abakash Parida, airport director. Such mock drills are held once every two years to ensure all stakeholders are prepared to handle real-time emergencies, he added. According to Parida, the scenario simulated a crash of an aircraft on the airport premises. The airports fire and rescue team was the first to respond followed by reinforcement from the city fire services and Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF). The joint teams worked in tandem to extinguish the simulated fire and carry out rescue operations. A triage area was set up by the medical team to assess and classify victims based on the severity of injuries. Minor injuries were treated on-site while seriously injured persons and casualties were promptly transported to the district headquarters hospital through ambulances, said Parida. During the mock exercise, police played a critical role in crowd control, managing relatives of the passengers, and facilitating a green corridor for seamless ambulance movement. Following the drill, a debriefing session was held with all participating agencies to analyse the operations and identify any gaps or shortcomings in the rescue process. The mock exercise was conducted in a well-coordinated manner, demonstrating strong collaboration among the airport authorities, emergency responders, and local administration, said Parida.
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Govt gives nod to 10 more ODRAF units
1 2 Bhubaneswar: In a bid to strengthen disaster management capabilities, the state govt has approved the establishment of 10 new Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) units, raising the total strength to 30 units across the state. Previously, 16 districts had the presence of 20 units. Though the new units will come up in 10 districts, comprising Gajapati, Malkangiri, Kalahandi, Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Puri, Ganjam (Berhampur), Cuttack (rural), Keonjhar and Sambalpur, two of them (Ganjam and Cuttack) already had two and one units, respectively. With this expansion, ODRAF's presence now extends to 24 districts. According to a notification issued by the state home department on July 7, the govt has created 1,035 new posts to staff 23 units, including the 10 new ones. "This expansion represents govt's focus on building a more resilient Odisha. With these additional units, we can respond more swiftly and effectively to both natural and man-made disasters," a senior police official said. ODRAF was set up in 2001, which came in response to the devastating 1999 Super Cyclone that claimed over 10,000 lives in the state. Each ODRAF unit comprises about 45 highly trained police personnel drawn from various forces, including from Odisha special armed police, armed police reserve, India reserved battalion and specialized India reserve battalions. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo by Taboola by Taboola "Our disaster management mechanism is one of the best in the country. ODRAF along with the Odisha fire and emergency service have been playing key roles. Their military-style training enables them to handle diverse emergency situations effectively," the official said. According to govt, the ODRAF personnel have undergone specialized training in rescue operations, first aid and disaster response. "Their expertise has proven invaluable during several calamities, from floods to cyclones. Our goal is to minimize response time during emergencies. These additional units will significantly enhance our disaster preparedness and emergency response capabilities across the state," the police official added. ODRAF, used as a pre- and post-disaster response force, works in coordination with the office of the special relief commissioner to respond to crisis situations.
Time of India
25-06-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Govt takes steps to tackle waterlogging on Grand Road
1 2 Bhubaneswar: As the state braces for heavy rainfall till Saturday, the govt on Wednesday fine-tuned its preparedness to prevent waterlogging and ensure smooth conduct of Puri Rath Yatra on Friday. Though there is no specific heavy rainfall alert for Puri, the IMD has issued a yellow warning, predicting thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and gusty surface wind reaching speeds of 30-40kmph in Puri on Friday. State govt has said that comprehensive measures have been taken to tackle possible rainfall. Govt has deployed multiple emergency response teams, including the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Odisha fire and emergency service along the Grand Road, where over 10 lakh devotees are expected to gather. "We have positioned adequate high-capacity dewatering pumps at strategic locations along the Grand Road to tackle any waterlogging issue. Our primary focus is ensuring smooth pulling of the chariots and the safety of devotees while maintaining the sanctity of the event," Puri district collector Siddharth Shankar Swain said. DGP Y B Khurania said, "We are ready with an SOP to effectively control the crowd during rain. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like One of the Most Successful Investors of All Time, Warren Buffett, Recommends: 5 Books for Turning... Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Click Here Undo Rescue teams of various agencies are in complete readiness." Puri resident Debasis Das said, "Waterlogging on the Grand Road in a perennial problem. There were instances in the past where devotees faced hardship while pulling the chariots negotiating thigh-high rainwater. We hope that the municipality authorities have cleaned the drains." Servitor Binayak Dasmohapatra of the Jagannath Temple emphasised the historical significance of the festival. "Rath Yatra has been conducted uninterrupted for centuries, regardless of weather conditions. We have complete faith that Lord Jagannath's journey will proceed smoothly," he said. Municipality authorities intensified drain cleaning operations. "The drain cleaning exercise is almost complete. We deployed additional workforce to clear all major and minor drains. Our monitoring teams are in place to address any emergency situation," a civic body official said. The administration has urged devotees to take necessary precautions and follow safety guidelines. "We request all participants to cooperate with security personnel and remain vigilant during the procession. Elderly devotees should adopt extra precautions during rain," collector Swain said.
