New Delhi, October 29: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday spoke with the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry, Odisha and Chhattisgarh — the states and union territory hit by Cyclone Arnab — and assured them of all possible central assistance to mitigate the hardship faced by people in the disaster, news agency ANI reported.

Source: ANI via Latestly

"In the wake of Cyclone Arnab, I spoke with the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry, Odisha and Chhattisgarh and assured them of every assistance to mitigate the hardship of the people in the face of the disaster," Shah said in a post on X.

Central teams to assess the damage

Shah said National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams had sprung into action and were continuing rescue and relief operations on a war footing. Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs) will soon be sent to assess the impact and the further assistance required, he said, adding that the Government of India stands with the people with resolute commitment.

Source: Mirror Now

The calls mark the Centre's next step after the cyclone's landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast, which Awaaz Punjab has been reporting since earlier this week: five people have died in Andhra Pradesh and heavy rain has affected at least 17 districts in southern Odisha, according to officials cited in earlier reports.

Source: Nation Press

In its latest update, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the deep depression — the remnant of Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Arnab — moved nearly northwards at 22 kmph over the past six hours and weakened into a depression. At 5:30 am on Thursday it lay centred over south Chhattisgarh and adjoining south Odisha, about 20 km west of Jagdalpur, and is likely to weaken into a well-marked low-pressure area by Thursday evening, ANI reported, citing the IMD.