Bhubaneswar, Oct 26 (IANS) Odisha government is on its toes as the state braces for heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds due to the impending cyclonic storm ‘Arnab’, which is likely to hit the Andhra Pradesh coast on October 28.
Speaking to media persons, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said that all 30 districts of Odisha will experience widespread rainfall, with heavy to very heavy rain in some places.
According to the India Meteorological Department, the system, which has been intensified into a cyclone, has been moving at 15 km/h and will intensify, generating wind speeds between 120 km/h and 150 km/h near Visakhapatnam before recurving southwestward. Malkangiri is projected to be the first district in Odisha hit, while heavy downpours are forecast across undivided Koraput, undivided Ganjam, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Puri, and Nayagada.
The Minister said that rainfall will commence on Sunday, with heavy downpours expected on October 27 and 28, intensifying to heavy or very heavy rainfall by Monday night. He added that following the system’s landfall on October 28, strong winds and rain would persist through October 29.
He further stated that with wind speeds expected to reach 40–50 km/h in some districts of the state, district administrations have been instructed to dismantle temporary installations wherever necessary. Large hoardings/boards have been ordered to be taken down to prevent injury or damage to people if they fall due to the wind. Instructions have also been given to dismantle all festival pandals (medhas) and stages wherever they have been erected.
The minister said that Odisha is coordinating closely with Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand regarding upstream rainfall into the Mahanadi, Brahmani, Baitarani, and Budhabalanga systems. Pre-positioning of ODRAF, NDRF, and Fire Services personnel is complete.
As many as eight NDRF teams have been deployed alongside 40 ODRAF teams on the ground, with additional units placed on standby in Koraput and Ganjam to deal with the impacts of the cyclonic storm.
Senior IAS officers have been stationed in different districts, alongside experienced ministers overseeing eight vulnerable districts. Public transport buses under the LAccMI scheme have been mobilised for evacuations, and health centres have been stocked with anti-venom medicines alongside stationed doctors. District and state control rooms are operating round the clock.
Speaking to media persons, Chief Secretary Anu Garg said that approximately 3,000 pregnant women nearing their delivery dates have been line-listed for hospital transfer. Garg confirmed that all marine fishermen have returned safely from the sea.
Meanwhile, the Odisha revenue minister again appealed to the people not to panic over the impending cyclonic storm and cooperate with the state government.
–IANS
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