Odisha CM Says 1,600 Pregnant Women Gave Birth In Relief Centres Amid Cyclone Dana

The state evacuated nearly 600,000 people to cyclone shelters, providing food and medical care, with the highest numbers from Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts.

Bhubaneswar:As Cyclone Dana made landfall in Odisha as a severe cyclonic storm in the early hours of Friday, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday said 1,600 of 4,431 pregnant women shifted to health centres due to cyclone Dana have given birth.

He also said that the state has evacuated altogether 5,84,888 people, and the number could exceed 600,000 by Friday morning. "These people are lodging in 6,008 cyclone shelters, where they are being provided with food, medicine, water, and other essential supplies," Majhi added.

Balasore district experienced the highest evacuation numbers, with 172,916 individuals moved to safety. Mayurbhanj followed with 100,000 people evacuated.

Also, Bhadrak saw 75,000 evacuations, Jajpur had 58,000, and Kendrapara recorded 46,000. The initial goal was to evacuate 10 lakh people; however, adjustments were made based on Cyclone Dana's changing path.

"Evacuees are currently staying in 6,008 cyclone shelters, where they are receiving food, medicine, water, and other essential supplies," the CM said. Besides, he has also updated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah on the situation at hand, stating that the Centre was satisfied with the measures taken by the Odisha government.

Earlier in the day, a woman evacuated from Cuttack district delivered a baby boy at Niali Hospital, the state government's Information and Public Relations (I&PR) department announced. The mother was among the 4,431 pregnant women taken to cyclone shelters.

Evacuated woman Sai Swapna Behera and her newborn are in good health and are doing well, the department informed. Disaster response teams are on the ground, providing safety and medical care for all.