Cyclone Arnab; in action Brahmapur Municipal Corporation
Manoj Kanta Dash,Odishabarta
Brahmapur, Oct,31st,20261: With incessant rainfall and strong winds disrupting normal life in several parts of Brahmapur city due to Cyclone ‘Arnab’, the Brahmapur Municipal Corporation (BeMC) has undertaken extensive relief, rescue and disaster management operations to provide assistance to affected residents and restore normalcy.
Relief materials were distributed among around 700 families in several waterlogged localities, including Jaleswar Vihar, Brahmapalli, Baishnaba Nagar, Purnabasi Colony and Nilanchal Nagar. Mayor Sanghamitra Dalai, Deputy Mayor E. Vivek Reddy, Commissioner A. Sasya Reddy and other senior officials of the Municipal Corporation participated in the relief distribution programme and extended assistance to the affected people. The BeMC has stated that relief distribution will be extended to other areas in phases, depending on the requirements.
The Corporation also extended assistance to truck drivers stranded along the National Highway stretch from Haladiapadar to Golanthara due to heavy rainfall and strong winds. Around 100 packets of cooked food were distributed among the stranded truck drivers as part of the humanitarian assistance.
Meanwhile, to address waterlogging in different parts of the city, the BeMC deployed cesspool vehicles and water pumps throughout the day to facilitate the speedy discharge of accumulated rainwater. Continuous drainage operations were undertaken in Raghupati Nagar, Shanti Nagar, Gajapati Nagar, Chandi Mandir Sahi, Andhapasara Road, Brahma Nagar, Braja Nagar, the Khodasingi-Ambapua road stretch and Dhobabandha Huda, among other localities. The operations helped drain out rainwater accumulated on roads and inside houses, facilitating the restoration of normal traffic movement.
In another rescue operation, a differently-abled person from the Vijay Vihar area was rescued by the BeMC medical team and shifted to a hospital for necessary medical treatment. The Corporation has accorded special priority to providing prompt assistance to vulnerable and distressed persons during the disaster.
Furthermore, cooked food has been provided to around 900 people accommodated in 12 temporary cyclone shelters across the city. The food distribution programme was carried out under the supervision of Commissioner A. Sasya Reddy, with the active participation of BeMC officers and staff. The Corporation is also ensuring proper food arrangements and other essential facilities for people taking shelter at these temporary centres.
In view of the damage caused by heavy rainfall and strong winds, Commissioner A. Sasya Reddy has directed the Engineering Wing to assess the damage to roads, drains and other civic infrastructure within the BeMC limits.
The officials have been instructed to prepare and submit a detailed damage assessment report at the earliest. Based on the report, the Corporation will take further steps for the restoration of civic infrastructure and undertake necessary repair works to bring the affected facilities back to normal.
