Gajapati (Odisha), Oct 27: A total of 15,000 vulnerable people have been identified for evacuation in Odisha's Gajapati district ahead of Cyclone Arnab, and 281 cyclone and temporary shelters have been readied to receive them, District Collector and Magistrate Akshay Sunil Agrawal told ANI.
Source: ANI via Indian Economic Observer
Agrawal said the district administration began preparations two days ago in view of the forecast, which carries an orange warning for October 27-28 and a red warning for October 28-29. "We have identified a total of 281 cyclone and temporary shelters. These facilities are fully equipped to accommodate evacuated individuals, with provisions for food, sleeping arrangements, sanitation, and drinking water," he said.
Source: ANI via Indian Economic Observer
The administration is also moving pregnant women whose deliveries are expected within the next 15 days. According to Agrawal, 210 such women are being relocated to maternity homes, Community Health Centres (CHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) so they are not cut off when the storm arrives.
Source: ANI via Indian Economic Observer
In landslide-prone areas of the district, awareness campaigns have been run through public address systems, and heavy machinery such as JCBs has been pre-positioned to respond to possible landslides, the Collector added.
Source: ANI via Indian Economic Observer
Gajapati is among the south Odisha districts — along with Ganjam, Koraput, Rayagada and Malkangiri — where rain and wind are expected to increase as Arnab approaches, according to a state review chaired by Chief Secretary Anu Garg. That review was told about 3,000 pregnant women across the southern districts have been identified for shifting to medical facilities, and cyclone shelters have been prepared, Utkal Post reported.
Source: Utkal Post
Schools, colleges and Anganwadi centres in Gajapati and five other southern Odisha districts — Ganjam, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Koraput and Nabarangpur — will remain closed on October 28 and 29, and fishing and tourist visits to hills, waterfalls and dams have been restricted in those districts, Careers360 reported with PTI inputs.
Source: Careers360 (PTI inputs)
Cyclone Arnab is forecast by the India Meteorological Department to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm and cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Yanam, by the forenoon of October 28, with maximum sustained winds of 115-125 kmph gusting to 140 kmph.