At least four fire fighting units from Berhampur are engaged in rescue operations. Rescue work was hindered as the accident occurred in a forest area and the spot is surrounded by water.
According to the National Family Health Survey-4 released in 2015-16, there were 934 girls in the 0-6 age group for every 1000 boys in Odisha. The child sex ratio was 953 for 1000 boys during the 2001 census.
This is the third cyclone to hit the state this year after Cyclone Daye and Cyclone Titli, but weather officials say it is likely to weaken before making landfall on Monday afternoon
Chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi who reviewed the relief and rehabilitation works in affected districts of Ganjam, Gajapati and Rayagada said that of the 62 deaths, 43 were from Gajapati district, the worst-affected among the three.
The incident, footage of which was shown by local channels, was reminiscent of a 2016 episode, when a man had walked 10 km carrying his dead wife on his shoulder after being denied a hearse.