Baleshwar: More than 2,500 people living in villages around the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur in Odisha’s Balasore district were evacuated on Tuesday as a precaution ahead of a scheduled missile test, officials said.
The district administration has temporarily relocated residents and domestic animals from the designated safety zone to nearby shelters to ensure their safety during the testing exercise.
Arrangements have been made at the temporary shelters for cooked food, drinking water and other essential amenities. Security measures have also been put in place to ensure the safety of the displaced people.
Officials said the evacuees would remain at the shelters until the completion of the missile test and subsequent clearance from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). They will be permitted to return to their homes only after receiving the necessary clearance.
The temporary evacuation is part of the standard precautionary arrangements undertaken by the administration to minimise risks to civilians during missile testing at the Chandipur facility.
