Bhubaneswar: In the aftermath of cyclone Arnab, the Odisha government is coordinating with the Union Home Ministry to airlift people from Ganjam district, where over 300 villages have been marooned by heavy rain and flash floods triggered by the storm.
Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) have begun rescue operations in the affected areas, but air evacuations could be delayed by low cloud level and continued rain, according to Chief Secretary Anu Garg.
Sorada was among the worst-affected areas of Ganjam, with the Rushikulya river overflowing due to extremely heavy rain over the past three days and inundating nearby towns and villages. In Aska, the river is flowing close to its danger level.
Officials said Digapahandi block has also been witnessing incessant rain for the past two days, triggering floods.
Garg attended a meeting in the state capital to review the situation arising out of the calamity and later told reporters that Ganjam district has been severely hit due to the extremely heavy rain.
Around 300 villages have been marooned due to rains and flash floods, she said, adding, “The state government is in contact with the Ministry of Home Affairs, and arrangements are being made to airlift some people from the marooned areas. The Indian Coast Guard will provide a chopper and make required arrangements.”
The state government plans to airlift 120 people in the first phase; but air evacuations may be delayed as cloud level remains low and rain continues, Garg told reporters. “We are optimistic that rains will ease, allowing our rescue teams to reach the affected people. We have rushed an additional ODRAF team to Ganjam and a senior officer has been monitoring the evacuation activities.”
Odisha Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena said most of the marooned people are in villages of Sanakhemundi and Aska blocks.
The chief secretary also said that heavy rainfall has disrupted rail services in the Srikakulam district of neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. “A railway bridge has been submerged in Srikakulam, halting trains on both sides,” Garg said, adding that authorities were planning to rescue stranded passengers by road.
If rescue by road is not possible, the passengers would be accommodated at nearby railway stations, where arrangements are being made to provide them with necessary facilities, the Odisha chief secretary said.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has assured the Odisha government and other states of all possible assistance in dealing with the impact of Cyclone Arnab.