Berhampur: As a precautionary measure in view of Cyclone Arnab, the Ganjam district administration shifted 107 pregnant women to the nearest hospitals and four to Maa Gruha, a transit house, by Monday noon.In view of the cyclonic storm, the district administration has decided to shift pregnant women whose expected delivery date is within 15 days to the nearby hospitals. “We have identified 1,262 such would-be mothers. The shifting of pregnant women, with the help of Ashas and anganwadi workers, started on Sunday afternoon. In some cases, where the women were reluctant to shift way before their due date, the Ashas and anganwadi workers had to convince them to shift to the hospital for safe deliveries,” said S Kameswar Rao, chief district medical and public health officer.Rao added: of those shifted, 74 have successfully delivered babies in different govt hospitals. “As per the report received from different hospitals, the infants and mothers are in good condition,” he said.Ganjam collector Keerthi Vasan V has directed the health officials to stock essential medicines in hospitals and cyclone shelters.The district administration is prepared to accommodate 1.5 lakh people in 110 cyclone shelters and 1,000 temporary shelters, if required. “There is no need to panic. We have prepared to face any eventuality,” said the collector, who visited different cyclone shelters and reviewed the preparedness.
