Finance
Cyclone Arnab is disrupting daily life in southern Odisha with powerful winds and heavy rainfall, prompting the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) to initiate rescue operations urgently.
Tall trees knocked down on multiple roads, such as national highways, have interrupted traffic and communication. Twenty ODRAF units (60 sub-units) have been stationed in 14 impacted districts – Ganjam, Gajapati, Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Puri, Mayurbhanj, Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur, Kataka, and Khordha.
The teams are working together with the local administration. The teams have been deployed in critical areas such as Berhampur, Bhanjanagar, Patrapur, Nuagada, Mohana, Mathili, Chitrakonda, Bissamcuttack, Dharamgada, Brahmagiri, Kanas, Kakatpur, Udala, Badasahi, and Balugaon.
ODRAF teams are saving individuals stuck in flood-affected coastal and low-lying regions and relocating them to safer locations and cyclone shelters, paying particular attention to the elderly, women, children, and livestock.
Under the direct oversight of ADG (Law and Order) Sanjay Kumar, the relevant Range IG, DIG, and district SPs are supervising ODRAF activities. Teams are removing fallen trees and clearing road obstructions to reopen traffic and communication while offering immediate help.
ODRAF’s 24-hour emergency control room is continuously monitoring the situation, and rescue teams remain operational as needed. DGP Vinaytosh Mishra commended the commitment and bravery of ODRAF members and instructed that public safety should be prioritized during emergencies, with forces staying entirely vigilant for the upcoming days to handle any crisis.
