By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: Keeping in view the impact of Cyclone ‘Murashu’ and possible rainfall, the state government and the office of the Special Relief Commissioner have undertaken extensive preparations. Evacuation and relief operations are ongoing in the affected districts of South Odisha. A total of 1,60,021 people have been evacuated to safe places from the districts of Ganjam, Gajapati, Malkangiri, Koraput, and Kandhamal. The target has been set to evacuate a total of 3,33,752 people from the danger-prone areas.
The highest number, 1,51,434 people, have been evacuated from Ganjam district. While a total of 2,441 shelter homes have been prepared across the state for people’s accommodation in all these districts, 552 of these shelter homes are currently operational. As a special initiative, a total of 1,068 pregnant women have been identified from various districts and safely evacuated to hospitals or shelter homes.
The District Emergency Offices in all concerned districts are fully operational, and senior officers have also been deployed to keep a strict vigil on the situation. While light to moderate rainfall continues in South Odisha, keeping the situation in view, instructions have been issued to keep schools, colleges, and anganwadi centers closed in the vulnerable districts. The administration has appealed to the people to stay in safe places and follow government guidelines.
