News Desk: Heavy to extremely heavy rainfall triggered by Cyclone Arnab battered southern Odisha on Wednesday, October 28, prompting authorities to evacuate more than 30,000 people and place several districts on high alert. The cyclone, which made landfall along the Andhra Pradesh-Yanam coast early Wednesday, has disrupted transport services and raised concerns over flooding and landslides in vulnerable areas.
Odisha Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said the government was preparing for the cyclone's impact across the southern districts, with Malkangiri expected to be among the worst-affected areas. Evacuations from low-lying and landslide-prone locations are continuing as authorities move residents to safer places.
The districts of Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur are receiving special attention. Schools and anganwadi centres in 16 of Odisha's 30 districts remained closed on Wednesday as a precautionary measure. The government has also kept 2,037 cyclone shelters ready, with arrangements for food, drinking water and other essential supplies.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall in Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati and Ganjam. Winds of 50-70 kmph were forecast in these districts. Several other areas, including Puri, Khurda, Kalahandi and Nayagarh, were placed under alerts for heavy to very heavy rainfall.
Mahendragarh in Gajapati district recorded the highest rainfall at 249.9 mm, followed by Pottangi in Koraput at 188 mm and Mohana in Gajapati at 168.8 mm. Ganjam recorded 161.4 mm, while Berhampur received 131.4 mm.
According to Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh P Patil, trees were uprooted in some southern districts, but no major damage or casualties had been reported in Odisha at the time of the statement. A total of 313 response teams, including Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force, National Disaster Response Force and Fire and Emergency Services personnel, have been deployed at vulnerable locations.
The cyclone also disrupted railway operations, with more than 50 trains cancelled along the eastern coast. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said minor disruptions, including fallen trees at 10 locations, had been addressed promptly. Flight operations at Bhubaneswar airport remained largely normal, although a nine-seater service on the Bhubaneswar-Jeypore-Visakhapatnam route was cancelled. Some flights were rerouted to avoid affected airspace.
The IMD said the system crossed the coast as a very severe cyclonic storm, with sustained winds of 125-135 kmph and gusts reaching 150 kmph. It subsequently weakened into a severe cyclonic storm and was expected to weaken further while moving towards southern Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
Meanwhile, authorities have strengthened security arrangements for Kendrapara's centenary Gajalaxmi Puja celebrations, deploying police personnel, CCTV cameras and drones to manage crowds and respond to emergencies.
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