In the wake of the severe situation triggered by Very Severe Cyclonic Storm “Arnab” and subsequent floods, the Government of Odisha has swung into high gear, issuing an urgent mobilisation order for key administrative personnel.
The Office of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) issued an official order dated November 3, 2026, invoking powers conferred under the Odisha Relief Code and Section 63 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. To spearhead ground-level relief, rescue, and restoration works, several IAS officers have been deputed to critical districts with immediate effect.
Key Bureaucratic Deployments
The newly deployed officers and their designated assignments include:
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Pawan Kumar, IAS (RR-2024): Sub-Collector, Redhakhol, Sambalpur, has been deployed to Gajapati district.
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Ajit Kumar, IAS (RR-2022): ADM, Rairangpur, Mayurbhanj, is assigned to Ganjam district.
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Ms. Tejaswini Behera, IAS (RR-2023): Sub-Collector, Sundaragada, has also been deployed to Ganjam district.
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Shiv Malviya, IAS (RR-2023): Sub-Collector, Baleshwar, is designated for Kandhamala district.
Focus on Restoration and Relief
According to the directive, these officers will function as Additional Special Relief Commissioners during their deployment. They are mandated to report forthwith to the respective District Collectors and operate under their overall supervision.
Their core responsibilities involve coordinating field-level relief measures, assessing immediate public requirements, overseeing the distribution of essential supplies, and expediting the restoration of critical infrastructure and services.
The state government has instructed controlling authorities to relieve the designated officers immediately so they can join their posts without delay. Strict instructions have also been issued ensuring that no officer leaves their assigned headquarters without prior permission from the respective Collector until further notice. With these administrative measures in place, the Odisha government aims to accelerate recovery and bring normalcy back to the cyclone-affected regions.
