In a late-evening review on Tuesday, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi visited the Special Relief Commissioner’s (SRC) Control Room to assess the evolving situation of Cyclone ‘Montha’.
Accompanied by Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari, SRC Deo Ranjan Kumar Singh, and Director General of Fire Services Sudhanshu Sarangi, the Chief Minister conducted a detailed discussion and evaluation of preparedness measures.
Speaking to the media after the inspection, CM Majhi expressed relief that, by the grace of Lord Jagannath, the cyclone’s anticipated severe impact has not materialised so far. “Despite initial apprehensions about the storm’s ferocity, no major disruptions have been observed yet,” he stated. However, he cautioned that the cyclone is projected to traverse southern districts, including Koraput, Malkangiri, and Nabarangpur tomorrow, urging continued vigilance regardless of the scale of impact.
Emphasising coordinated action across all government departments, the Chief Minister reiterated the state’s singular goal: zero casualties. “We have achieved this in past cyclones through meticulous planning and will do so again, drawing on our prior experiences,” Majhi affirmed. The state control room is operating round-the-clock to monitor developments, ensuring seamless inter-departmental coordination for effective cyclone management.
Highlighting evacuation efforts, CM Majhi revealed that 17,817 people from eight districts have already been relocated to safe shelters, with provisions for evacuating more if required. Special attention has been given to vulnerable groups, with 2,198 pregnant women shifted to health centres and an additional 651 scheduled for relocation soon. In total, 2,849 pregnant women are being prioritised for safe evacuation.
Post-cyclone restoration is also on high alert. Departments such as Power, Works, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, and other engineering wings are fully prepared for swift rehabilitation. The Agriculture Department has geared up for immediate crop damage assessments to expedite relief and compensation.
In a related development, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw held a telephonic discussion with the Chief Minister to gauge the ground situation in Odisha. Majhi informed that the Minister assured prompt decisions on resuming the operations of trains cancelled due to the cyclone.
Odisha’s proactive stance underscores its robust disaster management framework, honed by years of facing recurring cyclones, as the state braces for ‘Montha’s’ landfall.
