Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has deployed five IAS officers to vulnerable districts in southern Odisha to strengthen cyclone preparedness and coordinate relief, rehabilitation and restoration work ahead of the approaching Cyclone Arnab.
According to an order issued by the General Administration and Public Grievance Department on October 25, the officers have been directed to proceed to their assigned districts immediately and assist the respective district administrations.
The deployment covers Rayagada, Koraput, Gajapati, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur. The officers will work with district collectors to support preparedness measures and coordinate the administrative response before and after the cyclone.
Five IAS Officers Assigned to Vulnerable Districts
The state government has assigned one senior officer to each of the five districts.
- Rayagada: K. Sudarshan Chakravarthy — Managing Director, Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation.
- Koraput: Dr Poma Tudu — Additional Secretary, ST & SC Development, Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare Department.
- Gajapati: Bijay Kumar Dash — Additional Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department.
- Malkangiri: Dr Yeddula Vijay — Director of Sports.
- Nabarangpur: Dr Maheswar Swain — Additional Secretary to the Chief Minister.
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The officers will assist local administrations with cyclone preparedness, relief coordination, rehabilitation and restoration activities.
K. Sudarshan Chakravarthy to Oversee Preparedness in Rayagada
K. Sudarshan Chakravarthy, a 2011-batch IAS officer of the Odisha cadre, has been assigned to Rayagada district. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electronics from Osmania University. He currently serves as Managing Director of the Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation Limited (OSCSC), a state government corporation involved in civil supplies and related distribution functions.
His assignment places him in charge of assisting the Rayagada district administration during cyclone preparedness and the subsequent relief and restoration process.
The state government has also assigned officers with responsibilities in tribal welfare, healthcare, sports administration and the Chief Minister’s Office to the other four districts.
Dr. Poma Tudu Assigned to Koraput
Dr. Poma Tudu, a 2012-batch IAS officer of the Odisha cadre, has been assigned to Koraput. She holds an M.B.B.S. degree in Medicine. She serves as Additional Secretary in the ST & SC Development, Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare Department.
Her deployment places her alongside the district administration as it prepares for the potential impact of the approaching weather system.
Bijay Kumar Dash to Assist Gajapati Administration
Bijay Kumar Dash, an IAS officer of the State Civil Service (SCS) promotee category, has been assigned to Gajapati district. He currently serves as Additional Secretary in the Health and Family Welfare Department.
He will assist the district administration in preparedness and the coordination of relief-related activities.
Dr. Yeddula Vijay Assigned to Malkangiri
Dr. Yeddula Vijay, an IAS officer of the 2014 batch, has been deployed to Malkangiri district. He serves as Director of Sports in Odisha. He holds an M.D. in Medicine Surgery from Kannur University.
The state government has directed him to work with the district administration on cyclone preparedness and related response measures. His current position as Director of Sports is listed on the official website of Odisha’s Sports and Youth Services Department.
Dr. Maheswar Swain to Coordinate Efforts in Nabarangpur
Dr. Maheswar Swain, a 2014-batch IAS officer of the SCS promotee category, has been assigned to Nabarangpur district. He currently serves as Additional Secretary to the Chief Minister.
Dr. Swain holds an M.Phil. and Ph.D. in Psychology.
His deployment adds an officer from the Chief Minister’s Secretariat to the administrative arrangements for the district.
Odisha Strengthens Cyclone Preparedness
The deployment comes as the Odisha government intensifies preparations for the approaching cyclone. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi reviewed the state’s readiness at a high-level meeting on October 24 and directed departments to remain alert.
According to the Chief Minister’s Office, 302 rescue teams have been kept ready for emergency operations. Authorities have also been instructed to move people from low-lying areas to safer shelters, arrange medical support for vulnerable residents and prepare to restore essential services, including roads, electricity and drinking water.
The five IAS officers will support district-level coordination as the state works to implement its preparedness and response plans. The government has emphasised its “Zero Casualty” objective in managing the potential impact of the cyclone.
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