In Odisha on Friday, at least three people, including a nine-month-old baby, lost their lives in a landslide, as hundreds of villages were submerged because of landslides after Cyclone Arnab threw torrential rain. Heavy flooding was reported to be widespread throughout the southern districts of the state caused by the storm.
Cyclone Changes Course, Causes Unexpected Damage
The cyclone had left a huge damage in Ganjam, Gajapati and Kandhamal districts, said Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, though there had been initial doubts about heavy damage in Malkangiri district, which shares the border with Andhra Pradesh.
Earlier, the cyclone was projected to hit Andhra Pradesh much harder, while Odisha will suffer relatively less. But on account of the change of course there was widespread devastation in the three districts of the south.
Ongoing heavy rains caused a significant water-level rise in the water bodies and ignited almost a dozen landslides. In one such instance in Kandhamal, the couple and the baby (who were 9 months old) perished.
Majhi announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 4 lakh each for the families of those who died.
Rescue and Relief Operations Intensified
President Droupadi Murmu canceled her planned visit to Odisha for three days, which was to begin on 3 November, in light of the situation. She also spoke with the Chief Minister to find out about the well being of the disaster hit people.
The State government frantically raised rescue and relief efforts meanwhile. Indian Coast Guard & Indian Navy helicopters were deployed in flood-affected Ganjam area and airdropped relief materials in the form of food parcels.
Majhi said that as soon as the government was made aware that the cyclone had veered off its track, it rushed to the Centre for help, while the minister Suresh Pujari had conducted an aerial survey.