Bhubaneswar, October 29: Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Puajri on Wednesday said that nearly 19,000 people in 33 blocks and 11 urban local bodies (ULBs) have been affected by the cyclonic storm Montha in the State.

“A total of 33 blocks, 11 ULBs have been affected due to cyclonic storm Montha. Around 19,000 people have been evacuated and kept at 2,164 cyclone shelters. We have to remain alert till tomorrow,” said Pujari.

Pujari said that as many as 2,189 pregnant women have also been shifted to hospitals and Maa Gruhas in the affected districts.

“Cooked food is being served to 18,762 people in 362 places,” added the Minister.

Maintaining that reports of damage of houses are being reported, Pujari said that the district Collectors will be instructed tomorrow to carry out the damage assessment and submit report within 72 hours.

"Odisha Government had made elaborate arrangements and undertaken massive precautionary measures for the cyclonic storm which brushed past the Odisha coast following its landfall on Tuesday night," said Pujari.

“Gosani block in Gajapati district recorded the highest rainfall at 150 mm, while 56 blocks recorded rainfall between 50 and 100 mm. However, the State had already deployed 161 response teams during the cyclone for rescue and emergency operations,” added Pujari.

Meanwhile, IMD Bhubaneswar Director Manorama Mohanty said that the State may witness isolated heavy rainfall activity with thunderstorm, lightning and gusty wind for the next 24 hours.

“The cyclonic storm in the last 6 hours moved north-northwesterly with a speed of 15 kmph. Now it is about 460 km southwest of Gopalpur. Now it is further likely to move north west northward and weaken into a deep depression during the next three hours and into a depression during the subsequent 6 hours. In the last 24 hours, in the state of Odisha, 25 places reported heavy rainfall, and two places reported very heavy rainfall, and the highest maximum rainfall was reported in the district of Gajapati with 150.5 MM,” said Mohanty.

She said, “There is a forecast of isolated heavy rainfall activity for next 24 hours. However, the entire State is likely to get rainfall activity and at many places thunderstorm, lightning and even gusty wind are likely to be witnessed.”