Chhatrapur: The district administration of Ganjam has announced that all anganwadi centres and schools will remain closed until September 24 due to forecasts of exceptionally heavy rainfall associated with an approaching deep depression over the Bay of Bengal.

Rainfall has already intensified in various regions of the district as this weather system nears the Odisha coastline.

To ensure readiness, the administration has heightened its preparedness protocols by inspecting multiple cyclone shelters, evaluating their capability to shelter residents in case of emergencies.

Ganjam Collector V Keerthi Vasan, along with key officials including Chief Development Officer Sameer Kumar Jena, BDO Sambit Sangramjit Sahu, Chhatrapur Tehsildar Dibya Mohanty, Gopalpur NAC Executive Officer Manoj Nahak, and Gopalpur NAC Chairperson A. Janakiram, conducted site visits to cyclone shelters located at Uppalaputi, Haripur, Gopalpur, and Boxipalli.

The officials assessed the availability of essential resources at these shelters. The Collector specifically checked for emergency lighting, stretchers, medical supplies, and other crucial items.

Previously, a high-level meeting was convened by Odisha Chief Secretary Anu Garg via video conference with district officials to evaluate the state of preparedness for the impending weather conditions.

The district administration has also established a 24-hour emergency control room reachable at 06811-263978, with additional helpline numbers available for emergency control rooms across all 23 tehsils, 22 blocks, and 18 urban local bodies within the district.

Vasan encouraged residents to reach out to their local BDOs or tehsildars should they require assistance during this period.

The India Meteorological Department has indicated that the deep depression is expected to move across South Odisha and North Andhra Pradesh.