Bhubaneswar, Oct 29: Amid the devastation caused by Cyclone Arnab in southern Odisha, 931 babies were born during the cyclone period, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said on Wednesday.

According to the Chief Minister, 2,245 pregnant women were shifted to healthcare institutions before the cyclone made landfall as a precautionary measure. Of them, 931 delivered during the cyclone period.

“Both mothers and babies are doing well in all cases,” Majhi said while reviewing the post-landfall situation.

Cyclone Arnab crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast between 2 am and 8 am, triggering heavy rainfall across Odisha.

In a heartwarming development, several parents reportedly named their newborns after the cyclone and the weather conditions. Boys were named Arnab, Toofan and Pavan, while girls were given names such as Barsha and Batasi.

At Patrapur Community Health Centre (CHC) in Ganjam district, 30-year-old Sukanti Pradhan of Bengei Sahi delivered a baby boy and named him Arnab.

Her husband, Chakradhar Sabar, a businessman, said his wife had been shifted to the hospital in advance due to the approaching storm. Medical Officer Sambit Begray said the mother and baby were discharged after being found stable.

At the same hospital, 22-year-old Rukmuni Behera of Chikarada gave birth to a baby girl at 9.08 am and named her Barsarani. She said heavy rain was lashing the area around the time of the birth, adding that medical staff had suggested the name Barsha.

In Ganjam district alone, 493 pregnant women had been shifted to hospitals since October 25. Chief District Medical Officer S Kameswar Rao said 220 women had delivered by 1 pm, including 101 boys and 119 girls. All the mothers and newborns were reported to be in good condition.

The name Arnab, suggested by Bangladesh for the cyclone, is pronounced ‘Ornab’. Derived from the Sanskrit word arnava, it means ocean or a vast body of water and is a common name among Bengalis.

While Cyclone Arnab caused disruption and heavy rainfall across southern Odisha, the safe delivery of hundreds of babies brought moments of relief and happiness to families during the difficult weather conditions.