Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has successfully evacuated over 30,000 residents to safety as the entire southern region of the state remains vigilant on Wednesday, October 28. This precaution comes after the severe cyclonic storm Arnab made landfall along the Andhra Pradesh-Yanam coast, as reported by a government minister.
Suresh Pujari, the Disaster Management Minister, indicated that the cyclone is expected to impact all southern districts, with Malkangiri anticipated to bear the brunt of the storm.
“The cyclone is currently located within Andhra Pradesh and is expected to reach Odisha later this afternoon,” Pujari stated, adding that emergency personnel and resources have been deployed in at-risk areas while evacuation efforts continue.
The government’s primary focus includes the districts of Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, and Nabarangpur, where individuals from low-lying and landslide-prone regions are being relocated to shelters.
Schools and anganwadi centers in 16 out of the 30 districts of Odisha are closed for the day.
Authorities have prepared 2,037 cyclone shelters, equipped with essential supplies such as food and drinking water.
The administrations in Kalahandi, Kandhamal, and Nuapada districts are also on high alert, according to the minister.
Reports of uprooted trees have emerged from some southern districts; however, no significant damage or casualties have been reported thus far, Pujari noted.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed that the cyclone crossed the Andhra Pradesh-Yanam coast between 2 AM and 8 AM, registering as a very severe cyclonic storm with maximum sustained winds ranging from 125 to 135 km/h.
According to the IMD’s latest bulletin, the landfall process has concluded, with the cyclone’s center fully moving inland.
By 8:30 AM, the cyclone had weakened to a severe cyclonic storm, with wind speeds decreasing to between 110 and 120 km/h.
It is projected to move north-northwest over the next 48 hours while gradually losing intensity.
The IMD anticipates that the cyclone will weaken to a cyclonic storm within six hours and further downgrade to a deep depression in the following six hours.
The system is expected to traverse parts of southern Odisha before shifting northwest towards Chhattisgarh.
Its outer bands have already begun to cause persistent rainfall and strong winds in the districts of Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, and Ganjam.
Manorama Mohanty, director of the Regional Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar, mentioned that wind speeds could reach between 60 and 70 km/h, with gusts potentially hitting 80 km/h as the system advances inland.
The IMD has issued a red alert for Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Gajapati, and Kalahandi districts, warning of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall (exceeding 20 cm) and winds of 60 km/h.
Authorities in hilly regions have been advised to be cautious of possible localized landslides due to ongoing rainfall.
Additionally, heavy to very heavy rainfall, accompanied by winds of 40 to 60 km/h, is also anticipated in Bargarh, Subarnapur, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Kandhamal, Puri, Khordha, and Nayagarh districts.
An orange alert has been issued for Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, and Bargarh districts for October 29, predicting further heavy rainfall and gusty winds.
Pujari confirmed that 313 response teams have been dispatched to identified vulnerable areas, comprising 60 teams from the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), nine teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and 244 teams from Fire and Emergency Services.
All 19,143 fishing boats have returned to shore, and preventive measures, including temporary road closures, have been enforced in areas prone to landslides.
“Our main objective is to achieve zero casualties,” the minister emphasized.
