Finance
The Odisha government has intensified its disaster response aggressively as the state prepares for the potential effects of cyclone Murasu, with 1,41,797 individuals relocated from flood-affected regions and continuous rescue and restoration efforts in progress.
According to an official statement released on Monday, three individuals have lost their lives in Kandhamal district due to the disaster, while floods and associated incidents have impacted 2,10,920 people across Ganjam, Gajapati, and Kandhamal districts.
The scenario was evaluated during a senior-level meeting held at the Special Relief Commissioner’s office in Rajiv Bhawan, featuring Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, Additional Chief Secretary Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee, and SRC Rajesh Prabhakar Patil.
The minister stated that the government was completely ready to address the potential cyclone and encouraged individuals not to panic but to stay vigilant and careful.
Cyclone Murasu has strengthened into a deep depression in the Bay of Bengal and is predicted to produce wind speeds of 100-110 kmph upon reaching land. Its effects are expected to be experienced in various districts of Odisha, such as Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, and Puri.
The floods have impacted 41 blocks, 488 gram panchayats, and 2,137 villages, along with 307 wards in 23 urban regions of Ganjam, Gajapati, and Kandhamal districts. Included in the evacuations are 579 expectant mothers.
Relief efforts have been escalated, distributing rice, puffed rice, jaggery, and animal feed in the relief centers. The authorities have provided 5,458 plastic sheets to families in need.
Restoration of roads is advancing rapidly in the districts that have been impacted. In Ganjam, debris from landslides has been removed at 13 sites in Kukudakhandi and Patrapur blocks, with operations ongoing at eight additional locations. A landslide in Bhanjanagar that created a road blockage has been removed. Restoration of 124 road breaches and 186 damaged roads is also underway.
In Gajapati, rubble has been cleared from 19 roads in six blocks, and traffic has been reestablished on five roads impacted by waterlogging. In Kandhamal, 15 out of 31 road breaches have been fixed, and efforts are ongoing for the remaining 16. Debris from landslides obstructing roads at 15 spots in Gunupur, Rayagada district has been removed.
Power restoration in the areas impacted by cyclone Arnab and the following floods has achieved 99.05 percent within the TPSODL jurisdiction. Out of 17,88,942 impacted consumers in eight districts, electricity has been restored to 17,72,028, leaving 16,914 consumers without power.
All 46 impacted 33-kV feeders, 130 main substations, and 658 impacted 11-kV feeders have been restored, and 56,358 out of 56,706 affected distribution transformers have been fixed.
The restoration of the drinking water supply is also in progress. Out of 45,722 impacted tube wells in Ganjam, Gajapati, and Kandhamal, 4,475 have been rehabilitated and sanitized. Out of 393 rural piped water supply schemes impacted, 247 have been reinstated.
The restoration of the drinking water supply is also in progress. Out of 45,722 impacted tube wells in Ganjam, Gajapati, and Kandhamal, 4,475 have been rehabilitated and sanitized. Out of 393 rural piped water supply schemes impacted, 247 have been reinstated.
The administration has mobilized 235 water tankers, 80 tractor-mounted Syntex tanks, and 84 generator units. Nine mobile water purification units have been deployed in Ganjam and Kandhamal. Additionally, 4,22,300 bottled water packages and 3,18,500 water pouches have been distributed.
The Health Department has sent Rapid Response Teams and mobile medical units to avert outbreaks of diarrhoea, malaria, and dengue in the impacted regions.
For emergency assistance, 35 teams from ODRAF and NDRF have been sent to Ganjam, 10 to Gajapati, four each to Rayagada, Koraput, and Malkangiri, six to Kandhamal, and three teams to Nabarangpur.
A central team has come to the state for damage evaluation and plans to visit Ganjam and Gajapati districts to assess the situation.
A central team has come to the state for damage evaluation and plans to visit Ganjam and Gajapati districts to assess the situation.
The community has been urged to relocate to secure relief centers or nearby educational institutions. ASHA and Anganwadi workers are likewise organizing awareness campaigns.
The minister stated that the government was completely vigilant and expressed optimism that, with the blessings of Lord Jagannath, the effects of the second cyclone on Odisha would be minimal.
