Caritas India Rushes Relief to Cyclone Arnab Hit Families in Odisha’s Gajapati

Caritas India has begun distributing emergency ration kits and blankets to families battered by Cyclone Arnab in Mohana Block of Gajapati district, as many households in the region struggle to put their lives back together after heavy rain and flooding.

The relief drive began on 4 November 2026 in Birikote Panchayat, with support of the local organisation SWAD. Cyclone Arnab and the heavy rainfall that followed left a trail of damage across parts of Odisha. Floodwaters damaged houses, disrupted livelihoods and wiped out crops and household belongings. Rural and tribal families, small farmers and daily wage labourers have found recovery especially hard, since they have very little to fall back on.

In the first phase, Caritas India handed over 90 ration kits and 90 blankets to 90 families, reaching 522 people in all. The families come from 31 severely affected villages spread across five Gram Panchayats.

Each ration kit holds rice, wheat flour (atta), pulses (dal), spices, sugar, cooking oil and salt. Every family also received a blanket to help them cope with the cold and damp weather that has followed the storm.

The distribution continues on 5 November 2026, when the remaining 60 kits will go to other cyclone hit families in the area. This will complete the planned 150 ration kits under the current relief effort.

The aid was targeted at the most vulnerable. Families from Scheduled Tribe communities, farmers and daily wage labourers were given priority. Widows, pregnant women and elderly persons, who often face added risks during emergencies, received special attention.

Many families in the area reported partial damage to their homes. Others lost standing crops and household items, leaving them unable to meet even basic daily needs. For these households, a ration kit means a meal without worry, and a blanket means a warmer night.

Beneficiaries said they were happy and grateful to receive help at a time when they needed it most. For families still reeling from the cyclone, the timely support has brought relief, reassurance and a measure of hope.