8 ODISHA DISTS IN ADMIN FOCUS AS ‘MONTHA’ BEGINS TO TAKE SHAPE

AS Montha, post-monsoon season’s first cyclone over the Bay of Bengal region, began to take shape off Andhra Pradesh coast, Odisha focused its disaster preparedness in eight districts likely to bear the brunt of the storm. Hilly districts have been put on landslide alert.

- BIJAY CHAKI @Bhubaneswar

Revenue and disaster management minister Suresh Pujari reviewed the administrative readiness on Sunday and said eight districts such as Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Kandhamal and Kalahandi could receive heavy to very heavy rainfall from tomorrow evening till October 30.

Administration of Malkangiri, Gajapati, Nabarangpur and Koraput which would face direct impact of the cyclone and rains have been asked to be prepared for evacuation of people from vulnerable areas from tomorrow, he informed.

While directing all 30 districts to remain alert to deal with any situation, coastal districts including Jagatsinghgarh, Bhadrak, Puri, Kendrapara and Balasore are likely to be affected due to heavy rains.