The Odisha government on Monday said the administration is prepared to evacuate people from vulnerable areas to shelters if required, as seven districts remained under watch after Murasu intensified into a severe cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced a comprehensive relief package for people affected by Cyclone Arnab, covering farmers, families whose houses were damaged, livestock owners, fishermen, women self-help groups, weavers, artisans and small businesses. He also said 150 locations in Gajapati are also being monitored amid apprehensions of possible landslides. Around 1,80,920 people had taken shelter in cyclone centres during Arnab, the minister said, adding that the administration is closely monitoring the situation and taking necessary preparedness measures to deal with Murasu. In neighbouring Koraput district, the administration has sealed State Highway 48 between Borigumma and Raniguda following continuous rainfall and the risk of soil and mud sliding down nearby hills. Murasu was centred over the west-central Bay of Bengal at 8.30 am on Monday, about 160 km east-southeast of Nellore in Andhra Pradesh and 180 km northeast of Chennai in Tamil Nadu, according to IMD. The system was moving west-northwestwards at a speed of 22 kmph during the preceding six hours.
The districts likely to be affected are Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Kalahandi and Kandhamal, where the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued alerts for rainfall, revenue and disaster management minister Suresh Pujari said. The minister said people who were shifted to cyclone shelters during Cyclone Arnab have returned home, but would be moved back to the shelters if the situation warranted it.
The chief minister said the state government was committed to extending assistance to all affected people.
