Central team to visit Odisha to assess cyclone damage
An eight-member team will arrive on November 2 to evaluate damage caused by Cyclone Arnab.
An eight-member Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) will visit Odisha from November 2 to 4 to assess damage from Cyclone Arnab, according to reports by Sambad English and Odisha Bytes.
The team, led by Ravi Shankar, Joint Secretary in the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, will evaluate impacts on agriculture, infrastructure, roads, power, and water resources.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said Ganjam district has faced the most significant impact, with Gajapati and Kandhamal also reporting damage.
Pujari stated that 22 blocks in Ganjam have been hit, affecting approximately 43,000 people. Of these, nearly 23,000 have been moved to safer locations across 352 relief centres.
The minister noted that 72 villages were affected, including nine that sustained extensive damage. He added that the government has not received any reports of casualties so far.
As part of relief efforts, Naval helicopters will air-drop food packets at 22 locations in Ganjam, including Hinjili, Chikiti, and Aska. Additionally, 40 trained personnel will reach stranded people with cooked food.