India's zero casualty approach to managing extreme weather events is a major contribution to the implementation of… https://t.co/BCBkwtrxDa — Mami Mizutori (@HeadUNISDR) 1556874074000

NEW DELHI: Hours after the ‘extremely severe’ cyclonic storm ‘Fani’ crossed the coastal Odisha near Puri, a United Nations (UN) agency on Saturday took note of the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) “almost pinpoint accuracy” of early warnings that helped the local authorities in minimising loss of life in the state and appreciated India's ‘zero casualty approach’ to manage extreme weather events. India’s successful efforts in handling the disaster will be discussed at a global platform when countries assemble in Geneva, Switzerland during May 13-17 to deliberate on best practices of disaster risk reduction.“India's zero casualty approach to manage extreme weather events is a major contribution to the implementation of the Sendai Framework (an agreement to reduce disaster risk) and the reduction of loss of life from such events,” tweeted Mami Mizutori, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, while referring to efforts made by authorities in India in the context of the cyclone ‘Fani’.The UN agency, in fact, pointed out how advisories and alerts on the cyclone ‘Fani’, disseminated by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and local authorities in Odisha days before the landfall, minimised loss of life and injury.The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, referred by the special representative in her tweet, is a voluntary and non-binding agreement - adopted in Sendai, Japan, on March 18, 2015 - which aims to achieve substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health in countries across the globe over the next 15 years.Mizutori, head of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), said she was looking forward to hear more about the cyclone at the session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GP2019) that will take place in Geneva from May 13 to May 17. The Geneva session will be an important opportunity for the international community to boost the implementation of the Sendai Framework and related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda, as well as commitments of the Paris Climate Agreement.Highlighting the “zero-casualty cyclone preparedness policy” of India, Denis McClean, a spokesperson for the UNISDR, said, “The almost pinpoint accuracy of the early warnings from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) had enabled the authorities to conduct a well-targeted evacuation plan, which had involved moving more than one million people into storm shelters”.The UN agency, in fact, took note of how the local authorities in Odisha accommodated evacuees in over 4,000 shelters, including 880 specially designed to withstand cyclones.India had got similar appreciation from the UN agency for disaster reduction in the events of cyclone 'Hudhud' in October, 2014. The agency had then also recalled the country’s efforts for minimising casualties from the cyclone Phailin that hit India in October, 2013.Union ministry of earth sciences’ secretary Madhavan Rajeevan, who congratulated IMD chief K J Ramesh for the national weather forecast agency’s accurate prediction of track and landfall of the cyclone Fani , told TOI on Friday that the result was the best example of how investments in science & technology could help a developing country in saving lives. He also spoke about the ongoing efforts to further improvise the early warning systems in the country.Cyclone ‘Fani’ on Saturday weakened into a depression and moved towards Bangladesh after causing heavy rains on its path in West Bengal. The Centre, meanwhile, reviewed rescue and relief measures in the affected areas of Odisha, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh with the states and central ministries in the aftermath of the storm.The Odisha government informed that the extensive damage to telecommunication and power infrastructure had been caused in Puri, Bhubaneswar and other areas. West Bengal, on the other hand, reported mild impact of the cyclone while Andhra Pradesh reported some damage to crops and roads in Srikakulam district.“No damages to ports and refinery installations were reported. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has moved 16 additional teams (one team consists of 45 personnel) for rescue and relief work in Odisha and has removed fallen trees and other obstacles on most of the roads,” said an official statement.It said the health ministry was moving teams of public health experts to assist the state government in preventing outbreak of any epidemic.