Odisha Closes Schools in Eight Districts as Severe Cyclone Arnab Nears Coast

Schools in eight districts of Odisha will stay closed on Wednesday, October 28, to keep students safe as severe cyclonic storm Arnab moves toward the east coast. Officials stated that this shutdown is a precaution against expected heavy rainfall and strong winds.

Weather Warnings

The India Meteorological Department issued an orange warning for Puri, Gajapati, Ganjam, Rayagada, Koraput, and Malkangiri districts. These areas face forecasts of heavy to very heavy rainfall reaching up to 20 cm. A yellow warning covers several other districts, including Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Khurda, Nayagarh, Jagatsinghpur, Nuapada, Balangir, and Boudh, where heavy rain up to 11 cm is expected.

Relief Measures

Odisha Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh P Patil announced that the state government is moving people from vulnerable areas to safer locations. Authorities plan to shift about 48,000 people, including roughly 11,000 each from Gajapati and Nabarangpur districts. Evacuation drives are also underway in Malkangiri, Ganjam, Koraput, Rayagada, Kalahandi, and Nuapada. The state has prepared 135 permanent cyclone shelters alongside around 1,600 temporary shelters. Officials have deployed 294 rescue teams across affected areas and directed district collectors to target zero casualties.

Context

Coastal states in India often face severe cyclonic storms during the monsoon and post-monsoon seasons, prompting pre-emptive closures and mass evacuations to prevent loss of life. Meteorological departments issue graded warnings like orange and yellow alerts to help local administrations prepare emergency responses ahead of landfall.