A central team consisting of eight members visited Odisha’s Ganjam district on Wednesday to evaluate the damage caused by Cyclone Arnab and the subsequent flooding that occurred last week. Led by Ravi Shankar, the joint secretary in the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, the team initiated its assessment in Achili village after having visited the neighbouring Gajapati district the previous day. The officials aimed to gather detailed information regarding the impact of the natural disasters on local agriculture and infrastructure.

During their visit, the team members inspected agricultural fields, focusing on the damage inflicted on standing paddy crops that were nearing harvest. They engaged with affected farmers to understand the extent of their losses, as reported by a senior district official accompanying the team. This interaction was crucial for the team to gain insights into the challenges faced by the local farming community.

The assessment also included visits to various lift irrigation points, where the team examined breaches in the embankment of the Rushikulya River. Floodwaters from the river had inundated significant areas of agricultural land, exacerbating the situation for local farmers. The team noted the damage to electricity infrastructure, which included snapped power lines, uprooted trees, and compromised mobile tower installations.

Infrastructure Damage and Preliminary Reports

The team further inspected several locations across Ganjam district where bridges and roads had been washed away by the floods. These inspections were vital for understanding the broader impact of the flooding on transportation and connectivity in the region. Before commencing their field evaluations, the team met with district administration officials to discuss the damage assessment process.

Ganjam Collector V Keerthi Vasan presented a comprehensive report detailing the extent of the damage, supported by photographs and videos. This documentation was essential for the team to formulate an accurate assessment of the situation. The team’s findings will be used to inform decisions regarding compensation and other necessary actions to assist the affected populations.

On Tuesday, the central team had already visited several flood-affected areas in Gajapati district, where they observed washed-away bridges at Makapada in the R Udayagiri block and Gundriguda in the Mohana block. They also inspected the damaged Khariguda culvert and sections of the National Highway near Ledabandha, which had suffered from severe flooding.

Future Steps and Government Coordination

The central team is currently conducting a survey to determine the full extent of the damage and to identify the most severely affected areas. A member of the team indicated that a final decision regarding compensation and related matters will be made based on their assessment, which will subsequently be submitted to the government. It was noted that crops in low-lying areas have clearly suffered significant damage.

The Centre dispatched this team following a formal request from the Odisha government for a thorough assessment of the destruction caused by the floods linked to Cyclone Arnab, which made landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast on October 28. The state government has reported extensive damage across Ganjam, Gajapati, and Kandhamal districts in southern Odisha.

In addition to Ravi Shankar, the team comprises officials from various ministries, including agriculture, finance, Jal Shakti, power, road transport and highways, and rural development, along with a representative from the Indian Space Research Organisation. Chief Secretary Anu Garg mentioned that the team would convene a meeting with senior state government officials after completing their visits to discuss the damage assessment and share their observations.

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