Odisha CM reassures full preparedness as Cyclone ‘Montha’ landfall continues

As the landfall process of Severe Cyclonic Storm Montha continues, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Majhi on Tuesday reiterated that the state government remains fully prepared to tackle any eventualities arising out of the situation. He noted that the impact of the cyclone on Odisha has been minimal so far.

“We have reviewed the ground situation in the eight districts placed under the Red Zone. As per reports, these districts have not been affected as severely as predicted. Apart from heavy rainfall in some areas of Gajapati and Ganjam, the rest of the districts have not experienced significant rain or wind. Except for a few incidents of landslides and uprooted trees, no major damage has been reported. Importantly, there have been no casualties,” said Chief Minister Majhi.

He added that the situation is being closely monitored from the State Control Room, with teams from the NDRF, ODRAF, Fire Services, and police fully deployed. Adequate arrangements for food, medicines, and shelter have been made, with special attention to vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, pregnant women, and patients.

“So far, 17,817 people have been evacuated to safer places across the eight districts. Around 2,198 pregnant women have already been shifted to hospitals, and another 651 have been identified for evacuation if needed. At this stage, we don’t anticipate further large-scale evacuation. The administration remains fully alert and will take appropriate steps after the landfall process,” he said.

Also Read: Cyclone Montha landfall begins, process to continue for 3-4 hours

On transport and coordination, the Chief Minister informed that some train services were cancelled as a precautionary measure.

“I have spoken to Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who has assured that normal services will resume if the impact remains limited. Odisha has always been vulnerable to natural disasters like cyclones and floods, yet we are globally recognized for our robust disaster management system. Our goal remains zero casualty, and with the blessings of Lord Jagannath, we are confident that everyone will remain safe,” Majhi added.

The Chief Minister further stated that the government would remain on high alert until October 30, ensuring all necessary measures are in place to deal with any post-landfall developments.