Cyclone Arnab Aftermath: Odisha Deploys Top Bureaucrats to Speed Up Recovery Efforts
Bhubaneswar: In a bid to strengthen relief and restoration efforts following the devastation caused by Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Arnab and the subsequent flood situation, the Odisha government has deployed senior IAS officers to some of the worst-affected districts of the state.
The Office of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) issued an urgent order on November 3, invoking provisions under the Odisha Relief Code and Section 63 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, to ensure effective coordination of relief measures and speedy restoration of normalcy.
Under the directive, several IAS officers have been assigned to vulnerable districts as part of the state’s intensified disaster response mechanism.
The officers will function as Additional Special Relief Commissioners and work under the supervision of the respective District Collectors.
The officers deployed include:
- Pawan Kumar, IAS (RR-2024), Sub-Collector, Redhakhol (Sambalpur), assigned to Gajapati district.
- Ajit Kumar, IAS (RR-2022), ADM, Rairangpur (Mayurbhanj), assigned to Ganjam district.
- Tejaswini Behera, IAS (RR-2023), Sub-Collector, Sundargarh, assigned to Ganjam district.
- Shiv Malviya, IAS (RR-2023), Sub-Collector, Balasore, assigned to Kandhamal district.
The officials have been directed to immediately report to their designated districts and oversee field-level relief operations, assessment of public needs, supply distribution, and restoration of essential infrastructure and services.
The government has also instructed concerned authorities to relieve the officers without delay and directed them not to leave their assigned headquarters without prior permission from the respective District Collectors until further orders.
The deployment highlights the state’s efforts to accelerate recovery operations and ensure timely assistance reaches people affected by Cyclone Arnab and the resulting floods.
