Thousands evacuated in Orissa ahead of missile test

BHUBANESWAR - Over 3,000 people living near a defence base in Orissa’s Balasore district were evacuated as a supersonic BrahMos cruise missile is likely to be tested in the area Thursday, an official said.

The residents of the area’s villages — about 2,500 adults and nearly 750 children — were shifted early morning from their houses as they are located within two km radius of the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, 230 km from here.

They were shifted to two temporary shelters near by, the district official told IANS.

Scientists plan to conduct the test of the BrahMos missile later in the day from the base.

The BrahMos is jointly developed by India and Russia. It is capable of carrying conventional warheads upto 200-300 kg and has a range of 290 km.