Odishas Gajapati District Prepares for Cyclone Murasu as Alerts Issued
Gajapati district in Odisha is on high alert as Cyclone Murasu approaches, with preparations underway for potential heavy rainfall.
Gajapati, November 2 (Daily Kiran) : Gajapati district in Odisha is bracing for the impact of Cyclone ‘Murasu,’ which is forming in the Bay of Bengal. The district administration has activated emergency protocols in response to forecasts indicating that the cyclone could make landfall near the Andhra Pradesh coast, with potential effects expected in Gajapati as well.
The region is still recovering from the aftermath of Cyclone ‘Arnab,’ and officials are taking no chances with the new storm’s approach. Heavy rainfall is anticipated, prompting the administration to ramp up its preparedness efforts.
More than 500 temporary cyclone shelters have been established across the district. Plans are in place to evacuate residents from low-lying and vulnerable areas to safer locations. Additionally, monitoring equipment has been deployed in sensitive regions prone to landslides to provide timely warnings to the public. Teams from ODRAF, NDRF, and the fire department are also on alert for disaster management.
District Collector Akshay Sunil Agarwal provided updates on the preparations, stating, “Our preparations are ongoing. Cyclone Murasu is projected to strike the Andhra coast, and it may also affect Gajapati district.” He noted that the meteorological department has issued a Yellow Warning for today and tomorrow, with an Orange Warning in effect for the 4th and 5th.
Agarwal confirmed that an evacuation plan has been established, with cyclone shelters ready for use. Public announcements and awareness campaigns are being conducted to inform residents. Senior officials have been deployed across various blocks to monitor the situation closely, ensuring that people can be swiftly relocated to safe shelters if necessary.
Currently, the district has one ODRAF team, one NDRF team, and twelve fire brigade units on standby. The government has also allocated an additional ODRAF team, which is expected to arrive in the district today.
When asked about school closures, Agarwal stated that no orders have been issued yet, and decisions will be made based on today’s rainfall conditions.
