Bhubaneswar: As cyclone Arnab left a trail of destruction in Odisha, Ganjam emerged as the worst-hit district where over 42,564 people were affected by heavy downpour and flood.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, who chaired a review meeting at the State Emergency Control Room in Bhubaneswar, told reporters that Gajapati and Kandhamala districts have also suffered extensive damage, with 30,000 and 12,000 people affected respectively.
The state government intensified rescue, relief and rehabilitation operations in the affected areas as rain intensity subsided to a great extent, Pujari said after the meeting, which was attended by the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) and senior officials.
Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamala, Koraput and Rayagada are among the districts significantly affected by the cyclone. Continuous rainfall has caused waterlogging in several villages and extensive damage to roads, he said, adding that the impact was felt more in Ganjam, Gajapati and Kandhamala.
ODRAF, NDRF and Fire Services personnel have been deployed in the affected areas for rescue and relief operations. Helicopters are also being pressed into service for rescue missions and the distribution of food supplies.
Thousands of people from vulnerable areas have been evacuated and shifted to relief camps. Special priority is being given to pregnant women, who are being moved to safer locations and provided with necessary healthcare services and medicines.
Essential relief materials, including dry food, rice, jaggery, polythene sheets and safe drinking water, are being distributed among people taking shelter in relief camps.
The Minister directed officials to ensure continuous monitoring of the post-cyclone situation and take coordinated measures to safeguard lives and minimise damage. Instructions have also been issued to restore damaged roads and electricity supply on a war footing.
Meanwhile, the state government has released an additional Rs 20 crore for flood-hit Ganjam for effective disaster response and relief operations, taking the total financial assistance to Rs 25 crore.
The Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) announced the additional financial assistance in a post on X, citing the prevailing flood situation in the district in the aftermath of the cyclonic storm.
“An additional amount of Rs 20 crore has been released to Ganjam district as financial assistance for disaster response and relief operations in view of the prevailing flood situation in the aftermath of Cyclonic Storm ‘Arnab’,” the SRC Odisha stated in its post.
Earlier, the state government had released Rs 5 crore to Ganjam district to support relief and rescue operations. With the latest allocation of Rs 20 crore, the total financial assistance released to the district has reached Rs 25 crore.
An additional amount of ₹20 crore has been released to Ganjam district as financial assistance for disaster response and relief operations in view of the prevailing flood situation in the aftermath of Cyclonic Storm ‘Arnab’. @CMO_Odisha @SecyChief @rdmodisha @IPR_Odisha
— SRC, Govt of Odisha (@SRC_Odisha) October 30, 2026
