Bhubaneswar, Oct 28: More than 900 babies were born across Odisha during Cyclone Arnab, which brought heavy rainfall and affected several parts of the state. According to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, 931 pregnant women delivered their babies after the state government shifted thousands of expectant mothers to hospitals ahead of the cyclone.
Reviewing the situation after the cyclone made landfall, Chief Minister Majhi said that 2,245 pregnant women had been moved to healthcare facilities as a precautionary measure. Of these, 931 women delivered during the period. He confirmed that all the mothers and newborn babies were doing well.
Babies Named Arnab and Barsha
The cyclone also inspired some parents to choose special names for their newborn children. Several families reportedly named their baby boys Arnab and their baby girls Barsha, reflecting the storm and the heavy rainfall during their birth. Other names included Toofan and Pavan for boys and Batasi for girls.
Sukanti Pradhan, a 30-year-old woman from Bengei Sahi in Patrapur, gave birth to a baby boy at the Community Health Centre in Patrapur. Her family named the newborn Arnab. The hospital’s medical officer, Sambit Begray, issued the birth certificate following the parents’ decision.
Pradhan’s husband, Chakradhar Sabar, said his wife had been shifted to the hospital before the cyclone to ensure a safe delivery. He expressed happiness over the birth of their first child. Both the mother and baby were discharged after doctors confirmed that their health conditions were stable.
In another case, 22-year-old Rukmuni Behera from Chikarada gave birth to a baby girl at the same hospital at 9:08 am. Her family decided to name the child Barsarani. According to Behera, heavy rain was lashing the area around the time of the baby’s birth. The name Barsha was reportedly suggested by medical staff.
220 Deliveries Reported in Ganjam District
Ganjam district was among the areas where authorities took precautionary steps to protect pregnant women from the effects of Cyclone Arnab. Since October 25, the district administration had shifted 493 pregnant women to nearby hospitals.
Chief District Medical and Public Health Officer S. Kameswar Rao said that 220 women had delivered their babies by 1 pm on Wednesday. The newborns included 101 boys and 119 girls.
He added that the mothers and their babies were in good health, and some had already been discharged from hospitals.
Odisha Government Prioritises Maternal and Newborn Safety
The Odisha government focused on moving pregnant women to hospitals before the cyclone to reduce risks associated with heavy rain and adverse weather conditions. The advance arrangements helped healthcare teams provide medical assistance and support to expectant mothers during the storm.
Cyclone Arnab crossed the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh coast between 2 am and 8 am, bringing heavy rainfall to several parts of Odisha. The precautionary evacuation of pregnant women was an important part of the state’s preparations for the severe weather.
What Does the Name Arnab Mean?
Cyclone Arnab was named by Bangladesh. The name is pronounced “Ornab” and is derived from the Sanskrit word arṇava, which means ocean or vast water. Arnab is also a common name among Bengali-speaking communities.
Cyclones over the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea are named by members of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) Panel on Tropical Cyclones.
The naming system was introduced in 2004 to help distinguish storms occurring around the same period and make them easier for authorities, the media and the public to identify.
The birth of more than 900 babies during Cyclone Arnab highlights the importance of advance medical arrangements and emergency preparedness in protecting mothers and newborns during extreme weather events.
