Cyclone Arnab Triggers Flash Flood Alerts and Evacuations Across Southern Odisha

Southern Odisha districts faced severe weather and flash flood risks on Wednesday as cyclone Arnab moved past the neighboring Andhra Pradesh coast, bringing heavy rain, uprooted trees, and blocked roads across the region. Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari noted that the state government evacuated over 30,000 people, while State Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh Pravakar Patil stated that local authorities had moved about 28,000 people across eight districts against a planned target of 48,000.

Rainfall and Impact

The India Meteorological Department issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall in Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati, and Ganjam districts, alongside flash flood warnings for Koraput, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Gajapati, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Balangir, Kandhamal, and Ganjam. Mahendragarh in Gajapati district recorded the highest rainfall at 25 centimeters, followed by Pottangi in Koraput at 19 centimeters and Mohana in Gajapati at 17 centimeters. Schools and anganwadi centres stayed closed in 16 of the state's 30 districts on Wednesday. The storm also disrupted transport networks, leading to the cancellation of more than 50 trains along the eastern coast, while Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed that minor disruptions from fallen trees at ten locations were cleared promptly. Biju Patnaik International Airport director Prasanna Pradhan reported that flight operations remained mostly normal, though a small nine-seater flight on the Bhubaneswar-Jeypore-Visakhapatnam route was cancelled and some flights from Chennai and Hyderabad took alternative paths over Raipur.

Relief and Safety Measures

State officials deployed response teams from the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force, National Disaster Response Force, and local fire services to vulnerable areas. Authorities kept 2,037 cyclone shelters ready with essential supplies like food and drinking water. Officials also relocated 2,200 pregnant women to health facilities, with about 200 of them giving birth in Ganjam district. Relief Commissioner Patil mentioned that the storm's path toward Chhattisgarh could bring more rain over the next 24 hours, requiring close monitoring of the Mahanadi river system.

Context

Coastal regions of eastern India frequently face severe tropical storms during the post-monsoon period, requiring large-scale preventive evacuations and deployment of disaster management forces. State authorities coordinate closely with meteorological agencies to track storm movements and minimize damage to life and property in vulnerable low-lying districts.