ODISHA ON HIGH ALERT: Government Mobilises War-Footing Response as Second Cyclone Triggers Mass Evacuations

BHUBANESWAR — The Odisha government has launched a massive disaster response operation as the state prepares for the impending landfall of Cyclone Murasu, which has intensified into a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal. The disaster has already claimed three lives in the Kandhamal district, with over 210,000 people heavily impacted by preliminary floods across the Ganjam, Gajapati, and Kandhamal regions.

Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, alongside top state officials, reviewed the escalating situation at a high-level meeting at the Special Relief Commissioner’s (SRC) office on Monday. Minister Pujari urged citizens to remain alert and cautious rather than panic, emphasizing that the administration is fully prepared.

Key Impact and Evacuation Figures:

• Mass Evacuations: 1,41,797 people have been successfully moved to safe relief centres, including 579 pregnant women.
• Widespread Destruction: The floods have torn through 41 blocks, 488 gram panchayats, and 2,137 villages, additionally affecting 307 urban wards.
• Landfall Forecast: Cyclone Murasu is expected to bring destructive wind speeds of 100-110 kmph. The hardest-hit districts are projected to be Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, and Puri.

Emergency Infrastructure & Restoration Updates:

Roads & Landslides:
Restoration teams are working round-the-clock to clear debris from severe landslides. Operations in Ganjam have successfully cleared 13 landslide sites across the Kukudakhandi and Patrapur blocks. Massive efforts are also underway to repair 124 road breaches and 186 damaged roads across the affected districts.

Power & Utilities:
Electricity providers have made significant strides, restoring 99.05% of power following the previous onslaught of Cyclone Arnab and subsequent flooding. Out of nearly 1.78 million affected consumers, service has been brought back to over 1.77 million households.

Drinking Water & Health:
Disinfection and repair of crucial water supplies are active, with 4,475 tube wells and 247 rural piped water schemes already restored. The Health Department has deployed Rapid Response Teams and mobile medical units to aggressively prevent potential outbreaks of waterborne diseases like diarrhoea, malaria, and dengue.

On-the-Ground Deployment:

A powerhouse deployment of 35 ODRAF and NDRF teams has been stationed in Ganjam, with dozens more spread across Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Kandhamal, and Nabarangpur to handle immediate rescue efforts. Furthermore, a Central Government team has arrived in Odisha to begin formal damage assessments in Ganjam and Gajapati.

Local authorities, alongside ASHA and Anganwadi workers, are actively conducting awareness campaigns, advising the public to safely relocate to designated relief centres, schools, and colleges.