Odisha government launches restoration operations after Cyclone Arnab hits southern districts
The Rural Water Supply and Sanitation and Rural Development departments are working to repair infrastructure in Ganjam, Gajapati, and Kandhamal.
The Odisha government has launched extensive restoration and relief operations following the destruction caused by Cyclone Arnab, according to Pragativadi. The efforts are focused on the southern districts of Ganjam, Gajapati, and Kandhamal to normalise civic services and repair critical infrastructure.
The Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWS&S) department is working to restore safe drinking water. Senior officials and 16 additional engineers are supervising operations, which include repairing 4,475 out of 4,572 affected tube wells and making 247 out of 393 piped water supply (PWS) projects operational.
To manage immediate needs, the department has distributed 4,22,300 water bottles and 3,18,500 water pouches using mobile water treatment units. Additionally, 84 diesel generators are powering rural water setups, while 235 water tankers and 80 tractor-mounted Sintex tanks have been deployed across Ganjam, Berhampur, and Aska blocks.
The Rural Development Department has mobilised flood control rooms and rapid response teams to clear debris and landslides. In Ganjam, teams have cleared landslide debris at 11 locations and are working on 186 damaged roads, while 110 road breaches have been plugged across 14 blocks.
In Gajapati, landslides have been cleared from 19 locations across 6 blocks. In Kandhamal, engineering teams are addressing 31 major road breaches and repairing 38 damaged roadways.
State commissioners and special relief authorities are maintaining real-time surveillance to ensure affected households receive safe drinking water and structural access as normalcy is restored.