Central Team Assesses Cyclone Arnab Damage in Ganjam, Gajapati

Brahmapur, Nov 4: An eight-member central team on Wednesday began assessing the damage caused by Cyclone Arnab in Odisha, focusing on severely affected Ganjam and Gajapati districts.

The delegation, led by a senior Home Ministry official, visited Gajapati by helicopter and held discussions with the district administration before inspecting cyclone-hit areas in Mohana, Rayagada, Gumma and R Udayagiri blocks. Officials presented reports, photographs and videos documenting the damage.

The team subsequently proceeded to Ganjam, where extensive losses to agriculture and infrastructure have been reported.Cyclone-induced floods have inundated thousands of acres of farmland, destroying mushroom farms, maize and vegetable crops, including cabbage, bitter gourd and brinjal.

In Sorada block’s Baradi area, the swollen Rushikulya River washed away the homes of six families, who have been living in temporary shelters for the past week. Farmers in Ramachandrapur village under Hukuma panchayat have also reported extensive crop losses and damage to houses.

The assessment is expected to help the Centre evaluate the extent of devastation and determine further assistance for the affected districts.