Large-Scale Evacuation in Chandipur, Odisha Ahead of Planned Missile Test at ITR

On 11 June 2026, Indian authorities carried out a large-scale precautionary evacuation ahead of a planned missile test from Launch Complex-3 (LC-3) at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, Balasore district, Odisha. The operation involved moving precisely 11,442 residents along with livestock to temporary shelters. The affected villages lay within a 1 km to 3.5 km radius of LC-3. Residents were shifted to designated shelters including Bardhanpur Multipurpose Cyclone Shelter, Bardhanpur High School, and other locations. This follows recent missile tests including an advanced Agni-5 variant with MIRV technology tested on 8 May 2026, and a user trial of Agni-1 on 22 May 2026. DRDO Chairman Dr Samir V Kamat stated in April 2026 that DRDO was fully prepared for full-scale development of Agni-6. These tests are part of India's strategic deterrence capability enhancement under the Strategic Forces Command.