Bhubaneswar, The Odisha government was coordinating with the Union Home Ministry to airlift people from Ganjam district, where around 300 villages have been marooned by heavy rain and flash floods triggered by Cyclone Arnab, a top official of the state said on Thursday.
In Aska, the river is flowing close to its danger level. Officials said Sorada was among the worst-affected areas of Ganjam, with the Rushikulya river overflowing due to extremely heavy rainfall for the past three days and inundating nearby towns and villages.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg said teams of the National Disaster Response Force and the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force have begun rescue operations in the affected areas, but air evacuations could be delayed by low cloud level and continued rain.
The Indian Coast Guard will provide a chopper and make required arrangements. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has assured the Odisha government and other states of all possible assistance in dealing with the impact of Cyclone Arnab. “Spoke with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and briefed him on the impact of Cyclone Arnab across Odisha, the prevailing situation in affected districts, and the relief and restoration measures being undertaken by the state government. “He assured of all possible assistance to Odisha in the wake of the cyclone.
Around 300 villages have been marooned due to rains and flash floods, she said, adding, “The state government is in contact with the Ministry of Home Affairs, and arrangements are being made to airlift some people from the marooned areas.
Odisha Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena said most of the marooned people are in villages of Sanakhemundi and Aska blocks. The support and cooperation of the Government of India will further strengthen our efforts to protect lives, support affected families and expedite relief, rehabilitation and restoration across the state,” Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said in an X post.
