Bhubaneswar, Oct 30 (UDN): 43,827 People Sheltered Across 634 Relief Centres in Eight Affected Districts; 313 Response Teams Deployed for Emergency Operations
2,245 Pregnant Women Shifted to Health Centres, 931 Babies Safely Delivered; CM Mohan Charan Majhi Reviews Situation with Ministers and Senior Officials
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday reviewed the situation and management of Cyclone Arnab at the control room of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC), expressing satisfaction over the state’s preparedness and response efforts. The Chief Minister said that, by the grace of Lord Jagannath, the state had so far succeeded in achieving its target of zero casualties, with no reports of loss of life received at the time of the review.
After assessing the cyclone situation and the impact of heavy rainfall across Odisha, the Chief Minister briefed the media on the state’s emergency response arrangements, evacuation operations, relief measures and the steps being taken to ensure public safety.
Majhi stated that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had spoken to him several times before and during the cyclone to discuss preparedness and response measures. The Odisha Government had also remained in constant communication with the Andhra Pradesh Government to coordinate efforts in view of the evolving weather situation.
### Chief Minister Reviews Cyclone Situation and District-Level Preparedness
The Chief Minister first examined the status of Cyclone Arnab and its impact on Odisha at the SRC control room. Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Patil provided him with a detailed briefing on the prevailing situation, rainfall patterns, emergency response operations and the preparedness measures undertaken by the administration.
Following the briefing, Majhi reviewed the cyclone management arrangements and spoke over the telephone with the Deputy Chief Ministers and ministers assigned to supervise operations in different districts. He sought updates on rainfall, possible damage, river water levels, evacuation measures and the availability of essential facilities at relief shelters.
During the review, the Chief Minister spoke with Deputy Chief Minister K. V. Singh Deo, who was supervising cyclone-related arrangements in Koraput district; Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, who was monitoring the situation in Gajapati district; and Minister Nityananda Gond, who was overseeing the response in Malkangiri district.
The ministers briefed the Chief Minister on the ground situation in their respective districts, including rainfall-related challenges, the condition of vulnerable areas, shelter arrangements and the preparedness of local administrations to deal with any emergency.
### Heavy Rainfall Recorded in Several Blocks; Gajapati Among the Worst-Affected Districts
According to the Chief Minister, more than 105 millimetres of rainfall had been recorded in 17 blocks across the state. Patangi in Koraput district recorded the highest rainfall at 188 mm, followed by Mohana in Gajapati district, which received 182.4 mm.
Majhi said Gajapati district had been the most severely affected by rainfall among the districts under consideration. The administration was closely monitoring the situation, particularly in low-lying areas and locations vulnerable to waterlogging and other rainfall-related problems.
Expressing satisfaction with the response, the Chief Minister said Odisha had developed substantial capacity in disaster management and that both the state and district administrations had been fully prepared to handle the situation.
He credited the preparedness, coordinated planning and timely response of the administration for the progress made in protecting lives and managing the cyclone’s impact.
### Two Deputy Chief Ministers, Six Ministers and Seven IAS Officers Assigned Monitoring Responsibilities
The Chief Minister said that, as part of the cyclone response strategy, two Deputy Chief Ministers, six ministers and seven IAS officers had been assigned supervisory responsibilities across different districts.
The arrangement was intended to strengthen coordination between the state government and district administrations, ensure regular monitoring of vulnerable areas and facilitate the timely delivery of assistance to affected residents.
The Chief Minister emphasised that the administration continued to monitor the situation closely, even as emergency response and relief operations remained underway.
### 313 Response Teams Deployed Across the State
A total of 313 response teams had been deployed to deal with the impact of Cyclone Arnab and carry out rescue, evacuation and emergency assistance operations.
The deployment comprised:
* 60 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams
* 9 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams
* 244 Fire Services teams
These teams were mobilised to respond to emergencies, assist vulnerable communities, support evacuation operations and provide immediate assistance wherever required.
The coordinated deployment of specialised disaster response personnel and Fire Services teams formed a key component of the state’s preparedness strategy.
### 43,827 People Safely Housed in 634 Relief Shelters Across Eight Districts
The Chief Minister informed the media that 43,827 people had been accommodated in 634 relief shelters across eight affected districts.
The districts covered by the shelter and evacuation arrangements were:
* Malkangiri
* Koraput
* Nabarangpur
* Rayagada
* Kalahandi
* Ganjam
* Gajapati
* Nuapada
The relief centres had been equipped with essential facilities to provide temporary accommodation and assistance to people evacuated from vulnerable and low-lying areas.
According to the Chief Minister, cooked food and dry food were being supplied to the people staying in the relief camps. Arrangements had also been made to ensure the availability of drinking water, medicines and other essential supplies.
The district administrations were instructed to maintain adequate relief provisions and ensure that evacuees received necessary assistance throughout the emergency period.
### 2,245 Pregnant Women Shifted to Health Centres; 931 Babies Safely Delivered
Special arrangements were made to protect pregnant women and newborn babies during the cyclone.
The Chief Minister said that 2,245 pregnant women had been shifted to nearby health centres to ensure access to medical assistance and reduce the risks associated with severe weather and possible disruption of transport and healthcare services.
During the same period, 931 babies had been safely delivered.
The precautionary relocation of pregnant women and the arrangements made at healthcare facilities were part of the government’s efforts to protect vulnerable groups and ensure the continuity of essential medical services during the cyclone.
### All 19,143 Fishing Boats Returned Safely to Shore
The state government had also undertaken measures to ensure the safety of fishermen along the Odisha coastline.
Majhi said fishermen operating from coastal areas between Ganjam and Balasore had ventured into the sea in a total of 19,143 boats. All of them had returned safely to shore following the administration’s efforts to bring fishermen back before conditions became dangerous.
The Chief Minister described the operation as a complete success, stating that the government had achieved 100 per cent success in ensuring the return of the fishermen.
The operation was an important component of the cyclone preparedness measures, given the risks posed by rough seas and adverse weather conditions.
### Administration Remains Alert to Waterlogging in Low-Lying Areas
Although the government had reported no loss of life at the time of the review, the Chief Minister said monitoring of the situation would continue.
He warned that persistent rainfall could lead to waterlogging in low-lying areas across several districts, creating additional challenges for residents and local administrations.
To address the possibility of water accumulation, the authorities had been directed to make extensive arrangements for water pumps and ensure the prompt drainage of accumulated rainwater wherever necessary.
The district administrations were expected to remain vigilant and respond quickly to emerging problems, particularly in vulnerable areas where heavy rainfall could disrupt normal life.
### CM Expresses Confidence in Odisha’s Disaster Management Preparedness
Expressing satisfaction with the overall response, Majhi reiterated that the state government had prioritised the protection of human lives through advance planning, coordination among departments and the deployment of adequate emergency response personnel.
He said the combined efforts of state-level authorities, district administrations, disaster response forces, Fire Services personnel and healthcare workers had played an important role in managing the situation.
The Chief Minister also made it clear that the government would continue to closely monitor the effects of rainfall and take necessary steps to protect people and minimise damage.
The review meeting was attended by Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue Department Dr Aravind Padhee, and senior officials from the office of the Special Relief Commissioner.
The Chief Minister’s key message was that Odisha had so far achieved its zero-casualty objective in the face of Cyclone Arnab, while relief, medical assistance and emergency preparedness measures continued across the affected districts.
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