Bihar braces for severe storm

 Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has issued necessary instructions to the Health Department, Disaster Management and the Energy Department about the possibility of a storm following cyclone Phailin hitting the coastal belt of Odisha-Bengal in view of the warnings issued by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) .

The impact of Phailin may be witnessed in the state capital by Saturday evening or early Sunday morning, said IMD officials. As per the directive of the chief minister, the Health Department has cancelled leave of all doctors and asked them to stay alert for the next 48 hours.

Patna District Magistrate N Saravana Kumar said the state control room would function round-the-clock and coordinate with all the other district control rooms. DMs and SPs of east and south Bihar districts, which share the border with Bengal and Jharkhand, respectively, have been put on maximum alert.

“Following Phailin, heavy rains may lash Bihar in the next two-three days,” said IMD-Patna director A K Sen.

Disaster Management Secretary Vyasji has appealed to the general public to avoid staying under trees or weak structures during the storm and heavy rains.