States » EastPosted at: Oct 29 2026 3:57PM


Cyclone ‘Arnab’ triggers flood havoc in Odisha; Over 32,000 people evacuated in Ganjam, Gajapati

Bhubaneswar, Oct 29 (UNI) Odisha is grappling with a flood situation triggered by continuous heavy rainfall under the influence of Cyclone ‘Arnab’, with thousands of people affected in Ganjam and Gajapati districts.
The state government has stepped up relief and rescue operations, while Chief Secretary Anu Garg has reviewed the situation and directed officials to intensify efforts to protect affected residents and ensure the timely delivery of essential assistance.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday apprised union Home Minister Amit Shah of the cyclone’s impact, the prevailing situation and the relief, rescue and restoration measures being undertaken by the state government.
Majhi said Shah had assured Odisha of all possible assistance from the Centre in dealing with the situation. He added that the support and cooperation of the Government of India would strengthen the state’s efforts to protect lives, assist affected families and expedite relief, rehabilitation and restoration work across Odisha.
The Chief Minister said continuous monitoring of the post-cyclone situation and coordinated response measures remained a priority to ensure public safety and minimise the impact of the disaster.
Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Anu Garg on Thursday reviewed the flood situation caused by persistent heavy rainfall under the influence of Cyclone ‘Arnab’. She assessed the extent of the damage and issued necessary instructions and suggestions to officials for effective flood management.
Official sources said extremely heavy rainfall had occurred in Ganjam and Gajapati districts, leaving several villages inundated and affecting thousands of residents.
Garg discussed the situation of affected people, particularly in Ganjam district, with Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Patil and Ganjam District Collector V. Keerthi Vasan. She reviewed the preparedness measures taken ahead of the cyclone and the steps being implemented to manage flooding caused by continuous rainfall.
The Chief Secretary also held discussions with Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari on ongoing response measures and exchanged suggestions on further action to address the evolving situation.
According to official sources, 299 villages under 208 Gram Panchayats across 22 blocks in Ganjam district have been severely affected, while 711 villages under 110 Gram Panchayats across seven blocks in Gajapati district have been significantly affected.
Around 42,500 people have been affected in Ganjam district and approximately 20,000 in Gajapati district. Authorities have evacuated 11,882 people in Ganjam and 17,441 in Gajapati and accommodated them in designated cyclone and flood shelters.
The situation remains particularly concerning in parts of Ganjam, where 2,328 people from 70 villages are still surrounded by floodwater, Garg said.
She noted that strong water currents in some locations were preventing National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams from reaching stranded residents.
In view of the difficulties faced by rescue teams, airlifting people to safer locations has been recommended for areas where access by conventional rescue methods remains impossible. The Ganjam District Collector has been instructed to identify such locations and submit a list to the authorities.
Arrangements for cooked food, drinking water and other essential facilities have also been recommended for people stranded in these areas.
Garg said the matter had been taken up with higher authorities regarding the deployment of a special helicopter belonging to the Indian Coast Guard. A decision on airlifting stranded residents will be taken if the situation warrants urgent intervention.
District Collectors are closely monitoring the situation and implementing necessary measures to manage the flooding, coordinate rescue operations and provide relief to affected people.
The state government continues to prioritise public safety, evacuation of stranded residents and the provision of essential supplies as authorities respond to the impact of Cyclone ‘Arnab’ and the resulting heavy rainfall.
UNI DP
Tags: #Cyclone ‘Arnab’ triggers flood havoc in Odisha; Over 32#000 people evacuated in Ganjam# Gajapati
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