Bhubaneswar: Around one lakh people have been evacuated to safer places in Odisha as authorities step up preparedness measures ahead of Cyclone Arnab, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said on Wednesday.
The minister said 4,072 pregnant women had been identified for relocation, of whom around 2,000 had already been shifted to safer places. Several of them had also safely delivered their babies, he added.
Pujari said 19,143 fishing boats had returned to shore as a precautionary measure amid the cyclone threat. These included 11,955 marine fishing boats and 7,188 boats operating in Chilika Lake, he said.
The evacuation process was continuing, with authorities intensifying efforts as the cyclone approached the region, the minister said.
Pujari said he had spoken to the collectors of potentially affected districts in southern Odisha on Tuesday night to review the preparedness measures. He also held discussions with ministers overseeing the situation in different districts.
The ministers had visited affected or potentially vulnerable areas, interacted with people and assisted in the preparedness efforts, he said.
The state government was closely monitoring the situation, with officials and other agencies working to ensure the safety of people in vulnerable areas, the minister added.
Pujari said the situation was expected to continue until October 30. He added that no reports of damage or casualties had been received so far.
Expressing hope that the state would emerge from the situation without any loss of life or property, the minister invoked the blessings of Lord Jagannath and said the administration was prepared to deal with the developing situation.
The evacuation and preparedness measures are being intensified as authorities continue to monitor the cyclone’s movement and potential impact on Odisha.
