Cyclone Arnab: Odisha government puts emergency teams on high alert, shuts schools amid heavy rain
After IMD reports suggested that the Cyclone Arnab will make landfall in Odisha on September 23 night, State Minister Suresh Pujari on Wednesday said the depression over the west-central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal has started moving westward at a speed of 18 kilometers per hour over the past six hours. He said that due to this deep depression, there is a possibility of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in the districts of Koraput, Gajapati, and Ganjam between the 23rd and 24th of this month, and all three districts are currently in the red zone.
“Furthermore, on the 24th and 25th of September, other districts such as Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Koraput, and Malkangiri will be in the red zone, alongside nearby districts like Balangir and Boudh. The district administrations have been fully geared up to ensure complete preparations in the districts predicted and placed under the red, orange, and yellow zones,” he said.
Suresh Pujari said that the ODRAF teams have already taken positions in all vulnerable locations and the fire services department has also deployed personnel along with boats and other equipment to assist people in the event of heavy rainfall.
As part of the precautionary measure, the state government has also restricted vehicular movement on certain roads, including at Kalinga Ghat connecting Ganjam and Kandhamal. Moreover, the ferry service between Satapada and Jahnikuda in Chilika Lake will remain suspended for four days, until September 25, due to the prevailing weather conditions, an official order said.
