Bhubaneswar: The landfall process of Cyclone ‘Arnab’ has ended, but its impact on Odisha is expected to intensify till the evening, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Rajesh Prabhakar Patil said on Wednesday.
The cyclone is expected to reach Malkangiri district by Wednesday evening, bringing heavy rain and winds of up to 75 kmph, which could cause damage in affected areas, Patil said. The next 24 hours will be crucial for the state, although the situation remains under control so far, he added.
According to the SRC, Mohana block in Gajapati district recorded the highest rainfall of 182 mm in the past 24 hours, followed by Ganjam block with 161 mm and Paralakhemundi with 140 mm. The average rainfall across the state during the period stood at 23 mm.
After reaching Malkangiri, Cyclone ‘Arnab’ is expected to weaken into a depression. Its influence is likely to bring rainfall to Malkangiri and Koraput districts.
The State government has evacuated around 28,000 people from eight districts as part of its preparedness measures. Further evacuations will be carried out depending on rainfall intensity and the situation in vulnerable areas, said Patil.
As many as 22 pregnant women have also been shifted to safer locations as a precautionary measure. At present, people are staying in 324 cyclone shelters, where cooked food is being provided. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and fire services have been deployed to manage emergencies and assist people in affected areas, the SRC said.