Zero casualty’ achieved, says CM Majhi as Arnab moves past south Odisha

BHUBANESWAR: As cyclone Arnab moved inland and tracked across southern districts on Wednesday, the Odisha government shifted more than 43,000 people to safety across eight districts. No loss of life was reported till reports last came in.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who reviewed the situation at the Special Relief Commissioner’s (SRC) control room in the evening, said the state achieved its ‘zero casualty’ target as no loss of life was reported yet.

He said the state and district administrations were fully geared up to deal with the situation. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had spoken to him several times over the phoneand during the cyclone to discuss preparedness and response measures. The Odisha government was also in touch with the Andhra Pradesh government, he added.

Meanwhile, the weather system, which had begun to weaken, was expected to pass through Malkangiri during the night before moving across Nuapada into Chhattisgarh and further north.

While Gajapati reported damage to roads and a bridge following torrential rain, large parts of Ganjam were waterlogged. However, the biggest threat from the cyclone could be to kharif paddy, as several districts received rainfall that could affect crops ready for harvest.