Cyclone Arnab: Odisha Prepares 466 Relief Shelters, Evacuates Nearly 48,000 People

The storm is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast on October 28. Odisha authorities have intensified evacuation and emergency preparedness measures, with Malkangiri district expected to face the greatest impact.

Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said on Tuesday that the government was closely monitoring the cyclone’s movement and coordinating with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and district administrations.

According to the IMD, the system was over the west-central Bay of Bengal and had moved at approximately 20 kmph over the preceding six hours. It was forecast to move northwestwards and cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, near Yanam, by the forenoon of October 28.

The storm was expected to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm, with maximum sustained wind speeds of 125–135 kmph and gusts reaching 150 kmph.

Pujari said the system was expected to enter Andhra Pradesh near Visakhapatnam before moving into Odisha through Malkangiri and subsequently heading towards Chhattisgarh. He warned that strong winds and rainfall were likely across Odisha, with heavy to very heavy rain in several locations and extremely heavy rainfall in isolated areas.

Rs 19 Crore Released for Emergency Preparedness

The state government has released Rs 19 crore to eight vulnerable districts to support evacuation operations, food supplies and other emergency response measures.

According to the minister, all 466 identified relief shelters had been made ready, with the following facilities reported as operational:

Ganjam: 27

Gajapati: 175

Malkangiri: 35

Koraput: 47

Rayagada: 7

Nabarangpur: 134

Kalahandi: 14

Nuapada: 17

As of Tuesday morning, a total of 47,830 people had been evacuated from the eight districts. The district-wise figures were Ganjam (6,500), Gajapati (11,000), Malkangiri (9,850), Koraput (5,000), Rayagada (300), Nabarangpur (11,090), Kalahandi (2,415) and Nuapada (1,675).

Pujari said evacuation operations were continuing, with buses from the state Transport Department deployed to move residents from vulnerable areas to relief centres.

Special Arrangements for Pregnant Women

The government has also prioritised the evacuation of expectant mothers who may be at risk during the storm.

Pujari said approximately 3,000 pregnant women might require evacuation, although the number could increase depending on the situation. Of these, 1,614 had already been moved to safer locations. More than 20 women had safely delivered their babies at community health centres (CHCs) and primary health centres (PHCs), he added.

Disaster Response Teams Deployed Across the State

To strengthen emergency response capabilities, authorities have deployed 48 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams, eight National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and 225 Fire Services teams.

Additional teams are being kept on standby at Koraput, Chhatrapur and Mundali for deployment based on requests from district administrations or requirements identified by district collectors.

Pujari said officials were tracking the cyclone’s speed, direction, trajectory and intensity in coordination with the IMD. Experts and scientists under the leadership of the Special Relief Commissioner were continuously analysing developments and communicating assessments to district authorities.

He said the government was maintaining close surveillance and had put arrangements in place to respond to the approaching storm.

With evacuation operations still underway, authorities are focusing on moving residents from vulnerable areas, ensuring the availability of essential supplies and preparing emergency teams ahead of the cyclone’s expected landfall.