Cyclone Arnab crosses Andhra Coast, weakens; Odisha evacuates over 30,000 people
Very severe cyclonic storm Arnab crossed the Andhra Pradesh–Yanam coast on Wednesday morning and weakened into a severe cyclonic storm, prompting heightened preparedness across southern Odisha, where more than 30,000 people have been evacuated to safety.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the landfall process was completed by Wednesday morning, with the system moving entirely over land. The cyclone crossed the coast between 2 am and 8 am, with maximum sustained wind speeds of 125–135 kmph and gusts reaching 150 kmph.
The system weakened into a severe cyclonic storm around 8:30 am, with wind speeds dropping to 110–120 kmph, the IMD said. It is expected to move north-northwestwards over the next 48 hours, gradually weakening into a cyclonic storm and subsequently a deep depression.
The cyclone uprooted trees and power poles, causing power outages in several areas. Its outer bands have also triggered continuous rainfall and strong winds in Odisha’s Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati and Ganjam districts.
Odisha Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said the state had placed its southern districts on high alert, with Malkangiri expected to be among the worst-affected areas. Authorities are focusing on Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur, where residents of low-lying and landslide-prone areas are being shifted to safer locations.
Schools and anganwadi centres in 16 of Odisha’s 30 districts remained closed on Wednesday as a precautionary measure.
The state has kept 2,037 cyclone shelters ready, with arrangements for food, drinking water and other essential supplies. Administrations in Kalahandi, Kandhamal and Nuapada districts are also on alert.
The IMD has issued a red alert for heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Gajapati and Kalahandi districts. Heavy to very heavy rainfall, accompanied by winds of 40–60 kmph, is also forecast in Bargarh, Subarnapur, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Kandhamal, Puri, Khordha and Nayagarh.
An orange alert has been issued for Sundargarh, Jharsuguda and Bargarh for October 29, with heavy to very heavy rainfall and gusty winds expected.
Regional Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, Director Manorama Mohanty said wind speeds could reach 60–70 kmph, with gusts up to 80 kmph, as the system moves inland. Authorities in hilly areas have been warned of possible localised landslides due to persistent rainfall.
To strengthen emergency response, 313 teams have been deployed at vulnerable locations. These include 60 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams, nine National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and 244 Fire and Emergency Services teams.
The minister said all 19,143 fishing boats had returned to shore, while preventive measures, including temporary road closures in vulnerable landslide-prone areas, had been implemented.
The state government has reported trees being uprooted in some southern districts, but no major damage or casualties had been reported so far, Pujari said. He added that the administration’s primary objective was to ensure zero casualties.
