Berhampur, October 31: Telecom network is returning to normal in flood-ravaged Ganjam, the district worst hit by torrential rain in the aftermath of Cyclone Arnab, with restoration work being carried out on a war footing by the district administration in coordination with telecom service providers.

According to the status report released by the Information and Public Relations Department, as of 5 PM on October 31, BSNL services have been restored in 21 out of 23 blocks, including Berhampur, while Airtel and Jio services have resumed operations in 16 and 15 blocks, respectively.

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BSNL connectivity is yet to be restored in Dharakote and Sheragada blocks. Similarly, Airtel services remain disrupted in seven blocks - Dharakote, Digapahandi, Hinjilicut, Kabisuryanagar, Patrapur, Purushottampur and Sheragada.

Jio services are yet to be resumed in eight blocks - Bhanjanagar, Hinjilicut, Kabisuryanagar, Patrapur, Purushottampur, Sheragada, Polasara and Sanakhemundi.

“Restoration teams are on the field and services in pending blocks will be restored at the earliest,” posts the I&PR Department on ‘X’.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari on Friday conducted an aerial survey of the affected areas in Ganjam and Gajapati, two days after Arnab made landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast and triggered extremely heavy rain across south Odisha.

South Odisha continued to reel from widespread flooding triggered by heavy rain in the aftermath of Cyclone Arnab. Ganjam was the worst affected, followed by Gajapati and Kandhamal. Koraput and Rayagada have also been significantly affected. Heavy post-cyclone rain has waterlogged villages, and extensively damaged roads, including National Highways and other infrastructure.

ODRAF, NDRF and fire service teams have been deployed for rescue and relief operations, while helicopters of the armed forces are being used for rescue and distribution of food supplies.