With very severe cyclonic storm Arnab intensifying over the Bay of Bengal and set to influence southern Odisha, the state government has activated full-scale micro-management from the grassroots to the highest levels.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari on Tuesday chaired a detailed review meeting with the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) and senior officers at the State Emergency Control Room in Rajiv Bhawan, declaring that the administration is completely prepared and the public should remain assured of their safety.
“The entire machinery is on alert. All cyclone shelters are ready, and we are committed to a zero-casualty outcome,” the minister said, directing district administrations to immediately organise shelters and counter any adverse situation. The government has released Rs 19 crore as assistance to the eight most vulnerable districts — Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Nuapada and Kalahandi — which are under special watch due to expected heavy rainfall and strong winds.
Key Preparedness Measures
- Evacuation and Shelters: Officials have identified 48,010 vulnerable persons across the eight districts and prepared 466 shelters. District-wise figures include Nabarangpur (11,270 people, 134 shelters), Gajapati (11,000 people, 175 shelters), Malkangiri (9,850 people, 35 shelters), Ganjam (6,500 people, 37 shelters), Koraput (5,000 people, 47 shelters), Kalahandi (2,415 people, 14 shelters), Nuapada (1,675 people, 17 shelters) and Rayagada (300 people, 7 shelters).
- Response Forces: Multiple ODRAF, NDRF and fire service teams have been pre-positioned — Ganjam has 9 ODRAF, 2 NDRF and 24 fire teams; Gajapati 6 ODRAF, 1 NDRF and 8 fire teams; and similar deployments in Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Nuapada and Kalahandi.
- Administrative Alert: Schools and Anganwadi centres remain closed. Leaves of district collectors and key officers have been cancelled, with instructions to stay at headquarters. 24-hour control rooms are operational. Senior IAS officers have been deployed in critical districts. Field-level reviews cover shelter readiness, pre-stocked essentials, emergency alerts and continuous monitoring of IMD bulletins.
- Special Arrangements: Health departments have activated medical relief centres, mobile teams, power backups and emergency delivery services for pregnant women and newborns. Animal feed distribution is planned in affected areas. Nodal officers have been assigned for flood-prone zones with dedicated WhatsApp groups for real-time coordination.
Minister Pujari urged citizens to rely solely on official government information, ignore rumours, cooperate fully with the administration and stay safe. “Public safety is our highest priority. The state government is fully committed and working with complete dedication,” he emphasised.
As Arnab tracks toward the Andhra Pradesh coast (with impacts expected in southern Odisha), the state’s layered preparations — from control rooms to community shelters — aim to minimise risk and protect lives and property. Residents in the listed districts are advised to follow local administration guidelines and move to designated shelters if directed.
