Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has planned to relocate around 48,000 people from eight districts to safer locations in view of the approaching Cyclone 'Arnab', Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Rajesh Prabhakar Patil said today.

The evacuation drive is underway, and the process is expected to be completed by this evening, Patil said. Some people have already been shifted to safer places, while evacuation operations are continuing in different locations.

Malkangiri district is expected to be the worst affected by the cyclone, with the administration planning to evacuate the highest number of people, around 9,850, from the district.

The state government has put emergency response teams on alert to deal with any eventuality. Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and Fire Services are prepared for rescue and relief operations.

Additional teams have been kept in reserve at Koraput, Chhatrapur and Mundali to strengthen emergency response efforts if required.

The administration has also made arrangements to ensure that essential supplies are available at cyclone shelters. Food items have been stocked, and shelters have been kept ready to accommodate evacuees.

Special arrangements are being made for pregnant women, who will be shifted to Maa Gruhas and nearby medical facilities to ensure access to healthcare during the cyclone.

District collectors have been placed on alert and are coordinating preparedness and evacuation measures to minimise the impact of the approaching cyclone.

The state government is closely monitoring the situation, with evacuation, rescue preparedness and relief arrangements underway across the eight districts.