Bhubaneswar, October 28: As Cyclone Montha approaches the Andhra Pradesh coast, southern Odisha is grappling with strong winds and heavy rains that have led to widespread tree falls and landslides across several districts. Sudhansu Sarangi, Director General of Fire Services & Civil Defence, confirmed that 28 areas in the region have been severely affected.
The hardest-hit district is Gajapati, particularly the towns of R. Udayagiri, Paralakhemundi, and Guma, where major tree falls and landslides have disrupted daily life. In Ganjam district, areas like Chikiti and Patrapur are also dealing with heavy rainfall and similar challenges, while Anagan, near R. Udayagiri, is facing significant impacts as well. Restoration teams have already been deployed in these regions to begin recovery operations.
In Puri district, water levels have surged in two locations, creating conditions resembling flooding. Bhubaneswar remains largely unaffected, though eight dewatering pumps have been set up in flood-prone areas to prevent further inundation.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that Cyclone Montha will make landfall in the next 2-3 hours. Officials are hopeful that rainfall in Gajapati will decrease tomorrow, which would aid in the ongoing restoration work.
To address the situation, Fire Services teams, comprising 130 personnel, are actively deployed across the affected areas. Bichitra Kumar Panda, Southern Fire Officer, is stationed in Jeypore, while Chief Fire Officer Ramesh Chandra Majhi is overseeing operations from Brahmapur. A 24/7 control room in Bhubaneswar is managing complaints and coordinating relief efforts.
"So far, we have received 28 calls for assistance, restored services at 22 sites, and are actively working on the remaining locations. Thankfully, there have been no reports of casualties," Sarangi said.
