Brahmapur: Odisha’s Ganjam has maintained zero human and animal casualty amid the impact of Cyclone Arnab, with the district administration mobilising emergency response teams, evacuating 6,170 people to 177 safe shelters and intensifying precautionary measures to protect vulnerable communities.
With coastal safety, reservoir monitoring, urban drainage clearance and essential supply arrangements in focus, the administration has placed all departments on high alert.
Of the 6,170 people evacuated, 2,415 are men, 2,428 women and 1,327 children. Free kitchens have been opened at all 177 shelters, while round-the-clock control rooms are functioning in district-level offices to coordinate emergency response, said Keerthi Vasan Collector Ganjam during a press meet at Sub Collector office here on October 28.
The District Emergency Operation Centre is working 24 hours and can be contacted at 06811-263978.
Three ODRAF teams have been deployed at Brahmapur, Patrapur and Bhanjanagar, while two NDRF teams are stationed at Brahmapur and Asika. In addition, 24 Fire Service units equipped with power cutters and four motorised boats of the Special Relief Commissioner have been positioned for rescue and relief operations.
Fishing operations have been prohibited until further notice, with coastal officials, fisheries personnel and Marine Police maintaining vigil along the coastline. All fishermen have returned from the sea. The district has enumerated 1,636 boats, including 1,354 motorised and 282 non-motorised vessels. Thirty-seven trawlers, including four from Paradip and 33 from Andhra Pradesh, have taken shelter at Gopalpur port.
All reservoirs were below the danger level as of October 28, but Baghalati Reservoir has emerged as a key monitoring point following an inflow of 500 cumecs and a discharge of 200 cumecs. Officials are closely tracking reservoir levels, rainfall forecasts and downstream conditions amid the possibility of a further rise in water levels.
The administration has completed stormwater drain clearance at Gopalpur Junction and intensified desilting and obstruction removal at Khodasingi Bridge, Banchadeinagar, Burkudi, Bhakta Salabeg Nagar, Roland College, Kalinga Nagar and Bhabinipur near Narasingh Temple to reduce the risk of urban waterlogging.
As part of its healthcare preparedness, the district has identified 1,262 pregnant women whose expected delivery dates fall within the next 15 days. Of these, 426 high-risk women have been shifted safely to Maa Gruhas and hospitals, with 200 safe deliveries reported so far. Twenty-eight medical response teams and 23 veterinary rapid response teams are operating across the district.
Demonstrating commitment to last-mile relief, the Block Development Officer and Tahasildar of Polasara, along with their team, trekked three kilometres through difficult terrain to reach Palaba and Chanchera villages under Gochhabadi Gram Panchayat, where motorable roads are unavailable. They distributed essential food supplies and facilitated the safe evacuation of residents to shelters at the foothills.
Meanwhile, Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena reviewed the district’s emergency preparedness with officials and directed them to ensure adequate food, sanitation and other essential facilities at relief shelters.
The district administration has reiterated its commitment to protecting lives, maintaining essential services and reaching vulnerable communities as the cyclone situation unfolds.