Over 3 lakh people to be evacuated from 8 low-lying Odisha districts

With Cyclone Hudhud gaining momentum before it makes a landfall on the east coast, the Odisha administration will soon begin evacuating nearly three lakh people in eight low-lying districts.

These areas are expected to be affected by the cyclonic system and flooding may occur under the impact of heavy rain.

“The local administration of all these districts have already been directed to evacuate people from low-lying areas as well as move those with thatched houses to temporary relief camps opened in schools and other government buildings. All adequate arrangements have been made for their safe stay,” Chief Secretary G C Pati and Special Relief Commissioner P K Mohaptra said, addressing a press conference here on Friday evening.

The evacuation process will start from Saturday morning. The danger areas are mainly in the souther part of the state bordering Andhra Pradesh, where Cyclone Hudhud is expected to make its landfall near Vishakhapatnam.

The vulnerable districts are – Ganjam, Gajapati, Malkangiri, Koraput, Norangpur, Rayagara, Kandhamal and Kalahandi.

After the cyclone hits Andhra Pradesh it will pass through Odisha’s Malkangiri district, from where almost 1.5 lakh people would be evacuated. Cyclone Hudhud will then cross over to neighboring Chhattisgarh.

The special relief commissioner said evacuation of more people would depend on the situation. “Collectors have been given a free hand to take a call on it. Like in Phailin, we are trying for zero casualty this time too,” Mohapatra said.

Twenty units of the National Disaster Response Force and 10 from the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force have already been deployed in the districts with all necessary equipment to assist the local administration in rescue and relief operations.

Apart from the vulnerable districts, a few more coastal and interior districts of the state may also receive heavy rainfall under the impact of the cyclone. “The rainfall is expected to start from Saturday and will continue till Monday afternoon,” he said.