States » EastPosted at: Nov 15 2026 5:46PM


With ‘Arnab’ exposing disaster response gaps, Odisha readies for fresh cyclone threat

Bhubaneswar, Nov 15 (UNI) With Cyclone Arnab exposing serious gaps in Odisha's disaster preparedness following the death of at least 10 people and several others remaining missing in landslides, the State Government has stepped up precautionary measures as another cyclonic
storm brews over the Bay of Bengal.

The devastating floods in Ganjam and landslides in the hilly terrains of Gajapati and Kandhamal during the previous cyclone had exposed the vulnerability of several areas and raised questions
over the preparedness of government agencies in responding to the disaster.
Against this backdrop, the Water Resources Department has intensified its preparedness to tackle possible heavy rainfall, rising river levels and flooding in the wake of the developing weather
system over the southeast Bay of Bengal.
A high-level virtual review meeting, chaired by Engineer-in-Chief Dillip Kumar Rout, assessed
the likely rainfall, anticipated river flows, reservoir inflows and measures for strategic reservoir management. Particular attention was given to the increased water storage in eight medium reservoirs in Ganjam and two in Gajapati following Cyclone Arnab.
The meeting also finalised a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to guide reservoir operations during the impending weather event.
The department has directed field-level officials to maintain heightened vigilance, continuously monitor reservoir levels, ensure coordination among divisions and take timely action to minimise flood risks.
The measures are aimed at safeguarding critical water infrastructure and protecting downstream communities amid the evolving weather situation.
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Tags: #With ‘Arnab’ exposing disaster response gaps# Odisha readies for fresh cyclone threat
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