Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) has suspended boat operations at its Panthanivas Barkul unit for three days and secured all its boats as heavy rain and strong winds intensified ahead of Cyclone ‘Arnab’, an official said on Tuesday.
Sabyasachi Kar, manager of OTDC’s Panthanivas Barkul unit, said all 10 boats had been secured in safe positions, while three were currently non-operational.
“All boats are in safe positions, and boat operations have been suspended for three days. All staff members have been put on high alert, and all necessary precautionary measures have been taken,” Kar told a news agency.
He said weather conditions began deteriorating on Tuesday morning, with heavy rainfall and a significant increase in wind speed.
Kar added that staff members were stationed near the OTDC jetty complex to monitor the situation and ensure the safety of the boats.
The precautionary measures were taken ahead of the approaching cyclone, which is expected to affect parts of Odisha while making landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
