Chhatrapur: Ganjam district administration has stepped up preparations and taken precautionary measures ahead of impending cyclone ‘Arnab’ and probable heavy rainfall.
A district-level preparatory meeting was held Saturday at the OSWAN Hall in the Collectorate under the chairmanship of Ganjam Collector V Keerthi Vasan. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), rainfall is expected to begin October 26 evening, with heavy rain likely in parts of Ganjam district October 27, 28 and 29.
The meeting reviewed the cyclone’s likely trajectory and impact, wind speeds, conditions in vulnerable areas, including the landslide-prone Kalinga Ghat, drainage systems, rescue and relief arrangements, and the preparedness of emergency services. The leave of all government officials has been cancelled through October 29.
They have also been directed to remain at their respective headquarters in view of the impending cyclone threat. The district has 110 permanent and more than 1,000 temporary cyclone shelters ready to accommodate up to 1.5 lakh people at a time following evacuations from low-lying areas. Nine Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams and two National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams will remain on standby for rescue and relief operations.
The meeting was attended by Ganjam Superintendent of Police Harisha BC, Brahmapur Superintendent of Police Abhinav Sonkar, Additional District Magistrates Sachidananda Nayak, Debadatta Panda and Sunil Kumar Kerketta, Brahmapur Sub-Collector Abinash Kumar, Bhanjanagar Sub-Collector Umashankar Behera and other district-level officials. All Block Development Officers (BDOs), tehsildars and other officials participated via video conference.
