Bhubaneswar: In view of the impending cyclone ‘Arnav’, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has deputed two Deputy Chief Ministers and six Ministers to eight districts to oversee preparedness and ensure effective disaster management.

Majhi has directed the Deputy Chief Ministers and Ministers to remain in their respective districts from October 27 to 29 to monitor preparedness and coordinate response measures.

Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo has been assigned Koraput district, while Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida will oversee arrangements in Rayagada.

Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Minister Rabi Narayan Naik has been assigned Kandhamal, Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Jena will oversee Ganjam, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra has been deputed to Nabarangpur, and School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond will be in Malkangiri.

Similarly, Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling has been assigned Kalahandi, while Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj will oversee cyclone preparedness in Gajapati district.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclone ‘Arnav’ is expected to make landfall between southern Odisha and northern Andhra Pradesh on October 28, although the Andhra Pradesh coast has a higher probability of being impacted. The system is likely to bring heavy to very heavy rainfall to several districts.

Southern Odisha districts are expected to experience heavy rainfall and strong winds. Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri are among the districts likely to be affected the most, while other coastal districts may also receive rainfall.

As a precautionary measure, schools, colleges and Anganwadi centres in the five districts of Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri will remain closed on October 28 and 29.