Missile Test Preparations: Over 3,100 Evacuated from Villages Near Chandipur Test Range

Bhubaneswar: The Balasore district administration has made all necessary preparations to evacuate over 3,100 residents from six villages near Chandipur ahead of a missile test scheduled at the Chandipur Integrated Test Range (ITR) on Thursday.

To ensure public safety, the administration is relocating residents within a 2.5-kilometer radius of the missile launch site. Villages affected by the evacuation include Jaydevkasba Pahi, Sahajangar Pahi, Bhimpur Pahi, Tundra Pahi, Khedupahi, and Kusumuli. Residents will be temporarily housed in three multipurpose cyclone shelters set up for this purpose.

Temporary camps have been established at the following locations:

• Jaydevkasba Multipurpose Cyclone Shelter for residents of Jaydevkasba Pahi and Sahajangar Pahi,
• Khadupahi Multipurpose Cyclone Shelter for those from Khadupahi and Tundura, and
• Bhimpur Multipurpose Cyclone Shelter for residents of Kusumuli and Bhimpur.

Over 100 government officials and employees have been deployed to assist in the evacuation efforts, while 15 police sections have been assigned to maintain security in the area.

The evacuation process began early Thursday morning with the use of sirens to alert residents. Evacuees will remain in the temporary shelters until the completion of the missile test. The ITR will provide meals, including breakfast and lunch, to the displaced residents during their stay.