Odisha says zero-casualty target met as Arnab batters south, 43,827 evacuated

Odisha has claimed it met its "zero casualty" target after Cyclone Arnab battered the southern districts, with the state government evacuating 43,827 people to 634 relief centres and keeping another 2,037 centres ready.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, reviewing the situation after the cyclone made landfall in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, said advance preparations had helped the state avoid deaths despite the devastation. Gajapati was the worst affected among the eight districts put on alert, he said, adding that Malkangiri could be hit further as the system moved across the state.

"Though it was initially expected that the cyclone would make landfall on Wednesday forenoon, it hit the Andhra Pradesh coast much earlier, around 2 am. Our early preparations and evacuation saved many lives," Majhi said.

Eight ministers, including the two deputy chief ministers, and seven senior IAS officers are camping in the affected districts. The government is focusing on Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur. Schools and anganwadi centres in 16 districts stayed closed on Wednesday.

Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said more than 50 trains were cancelled along the eastern coast and the next 12 hours would be critical. As many as 313 response teams have been deployed — 60 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force teams, nine NDRF teams and 244 fire and emergency services teams. All 19,143 fishing boats have returned to shore.

Mahendragarh in Gajapati recorded the highest rainfall at 249.9 mm, followed by Pottangi in Koraput at 188 mm and Mohana in Gajapati at 168.8 mm. The IMD has issued a red alert for extremely heavy rain in Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati and Ganjam, with winds of 50-70 kmph.

Two Gajalaxmi Puja pandals collapsed in Bhubaneswar and Kalahandi, but no one was injured, police said.

(With inputs from PTI and media reports)