Rayagada: Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida on Wednesday reviewed cyclone preparedness and the situation in Cyclone ‘Arnab’-affected areas of Rayagada district, inspected shelter facilities and assessed the quality of food being served to evacuees amid heavy rainfall in southern Odisha.
Parida, who was assigned to Rayagada by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to oversee preparedness measures and monitor the situation, visited Sarupadu village under Derigam Gram Panchayat in Padmapur block to assess the arrangements and interact with local residents to understand their difficulties and immediate needs.
During her field visit, the Deputy Chief Minister directed the district administration to ensure that government assistance reaches every cyclone-affected family without delay. She also instructed officials to immediately assess damage to houses, crops and essential services and ensure timely relief and assistance for affected people.
She later visited a temporary cyclone shelter set up in Jaipanga village and reviewed the facilities provided to people evacuated from vulnerable areas.
The block administration evacuated more than 50 people from Mutukuni village, where several houses are kutcha structures, and shifted them to a cyclone shelter as a precautionary measure, officials said.
During her visit, Parida reviewed the arrangements at the shelter and personally tasted the cooked food being served to evacuees to assess its quality.
She also reviewed the situation at the Badanal reservoir project at Kenduguda as part of her visit to the district.
Rayagada District Collector Ashutosh Kulkarni, in-charge Sub-Collector and Tribal Development Agency Project Administrator Ajay Pradhan, Padmapur Block Development Officer Kureshu Jani, and officials from various departments accompanied the Deputy Chief Minister during the visit.
