Over 1.41 Lakh People Evacuated and 99.28% Power Supply Restored Under Minister’s Close Supervision
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Shri.Suresh Pujari is leading an intensive relief and restoration campaign across southern Odisha as the state works to recover from Cyclone Arnab and the devastating floods that followed.
Roads are being repaired, electricity connections restored, drinking-water facilities disinfected and health teams deployed across the affected districts. Pujari has reviewed the operations with senior officials and directed departments to restore normalcy at the earliest.
More than 2.10 lakh people across Ganjam, Gajapati and Kandhamal were affected by the cyclone and subsequent flooding. The disaster covered 41 blocks, 488 gram panchayats, 2,137 villages and 307 wards in 23 urban local bodies.
Over 1.41 Lakh People Taken to Safety
The administration evacuated 1,41,797 people, including 579 pregnant women, from vulnerable locations.
Relief centres were supplied with rice, flattened rice, jaggery and other essential provisions. Cattle feed was also arranged to support families dependent on livestock.
The government distributed 5,458 polythene sheets among affected households to provide immediate protection from rain and exposure.
Pujari’s regular monitoring helped bring different departments, district administrations and disaster-response agencies together under a coordinated restoration plan.
The scale of the evacuation demonstrated the government’s emphasis on protecting lives before shifting its attention towards rebuilding damaged infrastructure.
Roads Reopened Across Affected Districts
Restoring road connectivity has remained a major priority under Pujari’s supervision.
In Ganjam, landslide debris was cleared from 13 locations in Kukudakhandi and Patrapur blocks, while work continued at eight other locations.
Authorities closed 124 road breaches reported across 14 blocks and began restoration work on 186 damaged roads.
In Gajapati, debris was removed from 19 roads across six blocks. Repair work also progressed in Kandhamal and Rayagada, where landslides and flooding had disrupted connectivity.
The rapid clearance of roads has helped improve access for relief vehicles, medical teams, electricity personnel and communities cut off by the disaster.
Electricity Restored to Nearly Every Consumer
Power restoration recorded one of the most significant achievements of the post-cyclone operation.
Electricity was restored to 17,75,975 of the 17,88,942 affected consumers, taking overall restoration to 99.28 per cent.
Boudh, Rayagada, Gajapati, Malkangiri, Koraput and Nabarangpur achieved complete restoration. Kandhamal reached 99.78 per cent, while Ganjam recorded 98.48 per cent restoration.
Electricity teams continued working around the clock to reconnect the remaining consumers and repair damaged infrastructure.
Safe Drinking Water Given Priority
The cyclone and flooding affected 45,722 tube wells across Ganjam, Gajapati and Kandhamal. Restoration and disinfection work was taken up to prevent contamination and waterborne diseases.
Of the 393 rural piped-water supply schemes affected by the disaster, 247 were restored.
Water tankers, mobile treatment units and packaged drinking water were deployed to maintain safe supplies while permanent facilities were being repaired.
Pujari directed officials to treat access to drinking water as an immediate public-health priority and prevent communities from being exposed to unsafe sources.
Health Teams Deployed to Prevent Disease
The Health Department deployed rapid-response teams and mobile medical units in the cyclone and flood-affected areas.
The teams were tasked with monitoring public-health conditions and preventing outbreaks of diarrhoea, malaria and dengue.
The coordinated deployment of medical personnel, clean-water facilities and sanitation teams is intended to prevent a secondary health emergency after the cyclone.
Flood Banks and Irrigation Systems Under Repair
The Water Resources Department began urgent repairs to damaged irrigation infrastructure and flood embankments.
Restoration of the Rushikulya flood bank and other vulnerable stretches was placed under close supervision by senior officials.
Repairing these structures is essential for protecting communities and agricultural land from further flooding and restoring confidence among affected farmers.
Pujari Maintains Focus on Ground-Level Delivery
Pujari’s response has combined large-scale evacuation with a department-by-department restoration strategy covering roads, power, water, healthcare and flood protection.
ODRAF and NDRF personnel were deployed across vulnerable districts to support rescue and restoration operations. A central team also arrived in Odisha to assess the damage in Ganjam and Gajapati.
Senior officers were instructed to closely monitor road repairs, sanitation, essential services and assistance to affected households.
The restoration figures reflect the work of thousands of field personnel operating under difficult conditions. Pujari’s close supervision and emphasis on coordination have helped accelerate the return of essential services across southern Odisha.
With power supply almost fully restored, major road breaches closed and health and water teams active on the ground, Odisha has moved rapidly from emergency rescue to comprehensive recovery.
The operation presents Pujari as a hands-on disaster-management minister focused on measurable progress, coordinated administration and the timely restoration of normal life for affected communities.