Bhubaneswar: Odisha has intensified flood damage assessment, infrastructure restoration, and rescue operations in Ganjam district following the impact of Cyclone Arnab.
Principal Secretary of the Water Resources Department Shubha Sarma visited the Rushikulya River gauge site at Purushottampur along with Engineer-in-Chief Dillip Kumar Rout to assess the river situation and inspect damage to flood protection infrastructure.
The river water level at the Purushottampur gauge site stood at 15.835 metres RL during the inspection, just below the prescribed warning level.
The team also inspected a washed-away section of the Rushikulya Flood Bank and the head reach of the Main Canal at Hiradharabati Anicut near Hanumanpali. Other severely affected locations included Hiradharabati Anicut, Janhibili Anicut, the main canals and a drinking water intake point.
During the visit, Sarma interacted with local residents to understand their concerns over the flood situation and damage to local infrastructure. Departmental officers were directed to carry out an accurate assessment of the embankment breach and submit reports supported by geo-tagged photographs.
The officials were also asked to expedite preparation of the Detailed Project Report and initiate the tendering process for restoring the damaged flood bank.
The field inspection was attended by the Chief Engineer, Drainage, senior departmental officials and engineering staff. The assessment is intended to establish the extent of damage and facilitate restoration planning for the affected flood protection infrastructure.
Telecom services gradually returning
Meanwhile, efforts to restore mobile connectivity across Ganjam district are continuing, with BSNL, Airtel and Jio bringing services back in several areas affected by the cyclone.
According to the district administration’s update issued at 5 pm on Saturday, BSNL services had been restored in 21 of the 23 blocks, including Berhampur. The network remained unavailable in Dharakote and Sheragada.
Airtel had restored connectivity in 16 blocks, while Jio services were operational in 15 blocks.
Airtel restoration work was pending in Dharakote, Digapahandi, Hinjilicut, Kabisuryanagar, Patrapur, Purushottampur and Sheragada.
Jio services were yet to be restored in Bhanjanagar, Hinjilicut, Kabisuryanagar, Patrapur, Purushottampur, Sheragada, Polasara and Sanakhemundi.
Restoration teams are working in the affected areas, with the administration expecting services in the remaining locations to resume at the earliest.
Relief operations continue in Aska
In Aska, relief and restoration arrangements have been strengthened, with improvements reported in traffic management and the distribution of essential supplies.
The administration has moved parked heavy vehicles to clear space for relief operations. Around 20 autos and 10 tractors have been engaged in distributing essential supplies to affected areas.
Most buses have also been moved, while efforts are continuing to clear the remaining vehicles.
Drinking water distribution has been stepped up. Ten tankers and around 30,000 bottles of drinking water had been distributed by the evening of Saturday. The administration plans to increase the number of water tankers to 30–35 from the following morning.
Additional lights have been installed across Aska town to support relief activities, while fuel has been kept on standby with the local Minor Irrigation authorities.
Cooked food is being distributed throughout the day to meet the needs of affected residents. Meanwhile, TPSODL has assured the administration that electricity supply will be restored by the following morning.
The administration expects the overall situation in Aska to improve further as drinking water distribution, food supplies and restoration work continue.
Advanced equipment is being deployed to locate missing persons
Rescue efforts are also continuing in the landslide-affected area of Gidipabali in G. Udayagiri, where teams are trying to locate missing persons in Ganjam district’s border region adjoining Kandhamal.
An Indian Navy helicopter carried three specialised search equipment units to G. Udayagiri to assist the operation. These included a seismic life-detection unit, a vibration-detection unit and a victim location camera.
However, the helicopter could not descend at the location due to adverse weather conditions. The equipment is being transported by road and is expected to be positioned for use in the early hours of November 1.
Heavy rainfall at the landslide site has made rescue operations particularly difficult, with challenging weather and access conditions hampering efforts to reach the affected location.
Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and Odisha Fire Service are engaged in the operation. Teams from Indian Railways are also expected to join the rescue effort.
Authorities are consulting experts and making efforts to advance the search operation despite the difficult terrain, persistent rainfall and challenges in reaching the site.
Fire service team rescues 10 people trapped in canal
In a separate rescue operation, a Rourkela Fire Service team rescued 10 people trapped in a canal amid strong water currents at Tadama under Bhanjanagar police station limits.
The fire service personnel were proceeding towards the landslide-affected area of Gidipabali when they noticed the group stranded in the middle of the canal.
The 10 people had initially been evacuated from their homes to a safer location due to flooding. However, they later returned to collect their belongings and became trapped as the water current intensified.
Recognising the danger, the fire service team immediately launched a rescue operation under the leadership of Assistant Station Officer Pradeep Kumar Nayak.
All 10 people were safely rescued through coordinated efforts and shifted to a secure location.
The rescue came as emergency services continued to respond to multiple challenges arising from the cyclone, including flooding, damaged infrastructure, disrupted communication networks, and landslides across affected areas of the district.
