Bhubaneswar: Cyclone Montha, which made landfall on Tuesday night and grazed the state’s coast following a change in its trajectory, impacted 33 blocks and 11 urban local bodies in Odisha, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari informed on Wednesday.
“The cyclone warning brought back grim memories of the catastrophic 1999 Cyclone, leading to fear among the people. Accordingly, the state government began preparations on a war footing almost immediately after being informed of an impending cyclone. Over 19,000 people, including 2,198 pregnant women, were shifted to safer locations as part of the large-scale evacuation efforts,” he said during a press meet to brief the media on the extent of cyclone damage and the ongoing response measures.
He further stated that 362 free kitchens have been set up to provide cooked food to 18,762 people, staying put at the cyclone centres.
Pujari added that the change in the cyclone’s trajectory spared Odisha from severe devastation. Cyclone Montha changed its course and touched land near Amalapuram instead of Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh, reducing the potential impact on Odisha.
Gosani block in Gajapati district recorded the highest rainfall of around 150 mm followed by Patrapur in Ganjam at 117.4 mm, while 56 other blocks experienced rainfall ranging between 50 mm and 100 mm. Only a few places in Ganjam, Gajapati, Balasore and a few other districts experienced power outage, which was soon restored due to pre-planning and preparations. Roads blocked by uprooted trees were also immediately cleared. A total 33 ODRAF, 5 NDRF and 13 Fire Services teams were deployed for rescue and restoration work, he said.
The Minister, however, said that Odisha is in a state of alert till October 31 as the rain warning continues. “Assessment of damages to houses, roads, and other public infrastructure will begin from tomorrow. Preliminary reports indicate damage to some houses,” he said.
Polythene sheets have been distributed to households whose walls were damaged.
He said that there are also reports of damage to paddy, cotton and vegetable crops. “Officers will carry out accurate evaluations of crop loss and are required to submit reports within 72 hours. After assessment, affected households will receive compensation directly into their bank accounts. Officers conducting assessments will collect bank account details during field visits to enable immediate online disbursement,” he said.
He further assured that all departments concerned are actively engaged in restoring normalcy and extending necessary assistance to those affected by the cyclone.