- Cyclone Arnab is expected to make landfall near the Andhra Pradesh coast (between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam) on October 28 as a very severe cyclonic storm with winds of 115-125 kmph, gusting to 140 kmph.
- Six southern Odisha districts (Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur) are under high alert with schools closed
- Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has assigned ministers for direct oversight and the state is targeting zero casualties.
Bhubaneswar: Odisha has been placed on high alert as Cyclone Arnab intensifies over the Bay of Bengal and moves towards the east coast. The system is forecast to strengthen into a very severe cyclonic storm and cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Yanam, by the forenoon of 28 October 2026.
While the primary landfall is expected in Andhra Pradesh, southern Odisha is likely to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall, strong winds, flooding and possible landslides.
How Odisha Is Preparing for Cyclone Arnab Impact in Southern Districts
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari chaired a high-level review meeting at the State Emergency Operations Centre. District Collectors of Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur joined via video conference.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has assigned two Deputy Chief Ministers and six Ministers to oversee eight major districts from 27 to 29 October. The clear target remains Zero Casualty.
Key Safety Measures and Evacuation Plans for Cyclone Arnab in Odisha
- Leaves of all district-level officers cancelled
- 24×7 control rooms activated at district, block, tehsil and urban levels
- 27 ODRAF teams and 6 NDRF teams deployed across the six most vulnerable districts
- Schools, colleges and Anganwadi centres closed in the six southern districts
- Fishing ban enforced and tourist movement restricted in hills, waterfalls and dams
- People in kutcha houses and low-lying areas being shifted to cyclone shelters Pregnant women, elderly, children and persons with disabilities prioritised for evacuation
- Farmers advised to harvest mature crops immediately
- Essential medicines, anti-snake venom, chlorine tablets and fodder stocked
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