Bhubaneswar: Amid devastation caused by Cyclone Arnab in southern Odisha, over 900 new lives were born in the state.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said Wednesday that 2,245 pregnant women were shifted to healthcare institutions before landfall as a precaution, and 931 of them delivered during the cyclone period.
“Both mothers and babies are doing well in all cases,” Majhi said while reviewing post-landfall situation.
Cyclone Arnab crossed Andhra Pradesh coast between 2 am and 8 am, triggering heavy rainfall across Odisha.Officials said many parents named their newborns after the cyclone. Boys were named Arnab, Toofan and Pavan, while girls were named Barsha and Batasi.
At Patrapur CHC, Sukanti Pradhan, 30, of Bengei Sahi delivered a baby boy and named him Arnab. “We decided to name him Arnab. My wife was shifted to hospital in advance due to the storm,” said her husband Chakradhar Sabar, a businessman. Medical Officer Sambit Begray said mother and baby were discharged after being found stable.
At the same hospital, 22-year-old Rukmuni Behera of Chikarada gave birth to a girl at 9.08 am and named her Barsarani. “Heavy rain lashed the area around the time of birth. The name Barsha was suggested by medical staff,” Behera said.
In Ganjam alone, 493 pregnant women were shifted to hospitals since October 25. CDMO S Kameswar Rao said 220 delivered by 1 pm, including 101 boys and 119 girls, all in good condition.
The name Arnab was suggested by Bangladesh and is pronounced Ornab. Derived from Sanskrit word ‘arnava’ meaning ocean or vast water, it is a common name among Bengalis.
