Bhubaneswar: Odisha has evacuated 47,830 people from vulnerable areas and identified 466 cyclone and flood shelters across eight districts as the state stepped up preparedness measures ahead of the possible impact of Cyclone Arnab, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said on Tuesday.
The state government has intensified evacuation operations and deployed disaster response teams in vulnerable areas, particularly in southern Odisha districts, as authorities brace for the possibility of heavy rainfall and strong winds.
According to Pujari, the government has identified 466 cyclone and flood shelters across Ganjam, Gajapati, Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi and Nuapada districts.
Of the total 47,830 people evacuated so far, 11,090 were from Nabarangpur, 11,000 from Gajapati, 9,850 from Malkangiri, 6,500 from Ganjam, 5,000 from Koraput, 2,415 from Kalahandi, 1,675 from Nuapada and 300 from Rayagada.
The evacuation drive is continuing, with the Commerce and Transport Department deploying buses to shift people from vulnerable locations to designated relief centres.
The government has also identified around 3,000 women in the advanced stages of pregnancy for relocation to hospitals or safer places as a precautionary measure. Of them, 1,614 have already been shifted, the minister said.
Healthcare facilities, including community health centres and primary health centres, have been placed on alert. More than 20 babies have been delivered safely at healthcare facilities amid the ongoing preparations, he added.
The Special Relief Commissioner has released Rs 19 crore to eight districts for relief and preparedness operations. Ganjam has received Rs 5 crore, while Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi and Kandhamal have been allocated Rs 2 crore each, Pujari said.
The funds will be utilised for evacuation, food supplies and other essential assistance to people in vulnerable areas.
The Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force, National Disaster Response Force and Fire Services teams have been deployed in vulnerable locations to respond to any emergency, he said.
The state government has also assigned senior ministers to oversee preparedness in the districts. Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo has been assigned to Koraput, while Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida will oversee preparedness in Rayagada.
Rabi Narayan Naik has been assigned to Kandhamal, Bibhuti Bhushan Jena to Ganjam, Krushna Chandra Patra to Nabarangpur, Nityananda Gond to Malkangiri, Mukesh Mahaling to Kalahandi and Suryabanshi Suraj to Gajapati.
The cyclone, which was over the west-central Bay of Bengal, was moving west-northwestwards at a speed of around 20 kmph during the six hours preceding the minister’s statement, according to the details provided by him.
The system was forecast to move towards the Andhra Pradesh coast and cross between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Yanam, by the forenoon of October 28, with maximum sustained wind speeds of 125-135 kmph and gusts of up to 150 kmph.
Pujari said the government was closely monitoring the system’s movement in coordination with the India Meteorological Department.
The state is preparing for possible heavy rainfall and other impacts in Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada and Nabarangpur, while Ganjam and Gajapati may also be affected, he said.
“We are continuously monitoring the cyclone’s movement and remain in close coordination with the IMD. All teams are prepared to respond and assist people in the affected districts,” the minister said.
