Large-scale preparations are underway in Odisha’s Balasore district for an important missile trial expected to take place from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur. As part of safety measures, authorities have temporarily moved more than 11,000 residents from villages located near the launch site.
Massive evacuation around the launch zone
Officials said people living within a distance of 1 km to 3.5 km from Launch Complex-3 (LC-3) were asked to leave the area before the scheduled test. Along with residents, domestic animals have also been shifted to safer locations until the launch process is completed.
By Tuesday afternoon, around 11,442 people from the identified safety zone had been evacuated. District officials and police teams have been deployed across the area to manage the operation and ensure that all precautionary steps are followed smoothly.
Temporary shelters set up
To accommodate the evacuated families, the administration has arranged several temporary shelters. These include the Bardhanpur Multipurpose Cyclone Shelter, Bardhanpur High School, Bhimpur Multipurpose Cyclone Shelter, Tundra Multipurpose Cyclone Shelter, and Nidhipada Sevashram.
Officials said residents will be allowed to return to their homes once the missile launch is completed and the area receives the required safety clearance.
Agni-6 test likely
Sources indicate that the upcoming launch could involve India’s next-generation Agni-6 ballistic missile. However, authorities have not officially confirmed the identity of the missile that will be tested.
The Integrated Test Range at Chandipur is one of the country’s most important missile testing centres and has been used for several strategic weapons trials in the past. Security arrangements have been strengthened in and around the test zone as final preparations continue.
While officials have not shared technical details of the launch, the scale of the evacuation highlights the importance of the planned missile test.
