Odisha steps up cyclone preparedness as Arnab intensifies; heavy rain warning for six districts

Cyclone Arnab is a named tropical storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal. The article describes it as a very severe cyclonic storm because its winds are strong enough to threaten people, buildings, roads, power lines and coastal areas. Its expected movement toward the Andhra Pradesh coast also raised concerns in neighbouring Odisha.

India’s weather service classifies a storm as very severe when its maximum sustained winds reach roughly 118–166 kmph. Arnab was forecast to have sustained winds of 115–125 kmph, with gusts up to 140 kmph. That forecast places much of its strength within the very severe category.

This classification matters because stronger winds usually require faster evacuations and more emergency resources. Odisha therefore deployed fire services, ODRAF and NDRF teams, prepared shelters and pumps, restricted beaches, and closed schools in exposed districts. The storm was expected to cross the coast near Yanam on Wednesday.

Cyclone Arnab was expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Yanam. The article gives Wednesday forenoon or around Wednesday noon as the likely timing. Before landfall, the storm was about 400 kilometres south-southeast of Gopalpur in Odisha.

The India Meteorological Department forecast maximum sustained winds of 115–125 kmph. Gusts could reach 140 kmph. The storm was expected to move northwestwards, bringing dangerous winds and heavy rain even beyond its projected crossing point.

This forecast explains why Odisha prepared despite the expected landfall being in Andhra Pradesh. Southern Odisha districts could face intense rain, flooding and gusty winds. The state issued orange, yellow and later red warnings, mobilised rescue teams, prepared shelters and temporary centres, and restricted beach access. Forecast tracks and impact estimates were to be checked against official bulletins.

Odisha mounted a large, layered response because southern districts faced heavy rain, flooding and strong winds. Around 225 fire-service teams were mobilised, while 245 teams were asked to remain ready. The state also prepared 135 cyclone shelters and 1,600 temporary accommodation centres for possible evacuations.

In Ganjam and Gajapati, 34 teams were deployed, including 26 in Ganjam and eight in Gajapati. The department arranged 135 high-capacity pumps to remove floodwater. Orange alerts initially covered Puri, Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri. Sixteen other districts received yellow alerts.

For October 28–29, red warnings covered Gajapati, Ganjam, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri for exceptionally heavy rain in some places. These numbers show preparation at several levels: rescue, evacuation, drainage and warning. They also reflect changing risk as the cyclone moved closer and forecasts became more specific.

Weather warning colours communicate the seriousness of expected conditions. Yellow generally means people should stay alert and monitor updates. Orange means authorities and residents should prepare for disruption and possible danger. Red means severe weather is likely and urgent protective action may be needed. These are standard Indian weather-warning meanings.

Odisha first placed Puri, Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri under orange alert for heavy or extremely heavy rain, with winds of 40–50 kmph and gusts up to 60 kmph. Sixteen other districts received yellow alerts. Later, red warnings covered five districts for heavy to very heavy rain, including extremely heavy rain at isolated places.

The differences reflected location, expected rainfall, wind strength and timing. Southern districts were closer to the storm’s likely influence. Forecasts for October 28–29 showed increased danger there, so warnings strengthened. Other districts remained under lower-level alerts because their predicted impacts were less severe.

Southern Odisha faced the possibility of extremely heavy rain, thunderstorms, flooding and strong winds. The article warned that winds could reach 60–70 kmph, with gusts up to 80 kmph on October 28–29. Such conditions could uproot trees, block roads, inundate areas and require rescues from flooded locations.

Teams were equipped for several kinds of emergencies. Ganjam received mechanical power saws, telescopic tower lights, rubber boats, combi tools and high-capacity pumps. Gajapati teams had boats, cutting equipment and lighting systems. Across the affected areas, 135 high-capacity pumps were arranged to drain water, while helpline 112 offered emergency assistance.

The response combined rescue, access and recovery. Boats could help reach people surrounded by water. Saws and cutting tools could clear trees and other obstructions. Pumps could drain inundated areas, and lights could support work during poor visibility or darkness. Fire services, ODRAF and NDRF personnel were placed on alert across district blocks.

The restrictions were preventive measures designed to keep people away from exposed places and avoid avoidable travel. In Ganjam, access to every beach, including Gopalpur and Sonapur, was prohibited from Monday noon until October 30 forenoon. Schools and Anganwadi centres closed in five districts, while fishing activity was halted as crews moved to safer harbour locations.

Thirteen fishing trawlers and 80 fishermen took shelter at Gopalpur Port and the Aryapalli fishing jetty. The Odisha Public Service Commission also rescheduled two days of the Odisha Civil Services Main examination. Language papers moved to October 31, and the Essay paper moved to November 5.

These actions limit the number of people exposed to storm surge, rough seas, heavy rain, flooding and dangerous winds. They also prevent students, teachers, fishermen and exam candidates from travelling during worsening weather. The government separately asked media outlets and social platforms to use official bulletins and avoid unverified forecasts that could create panic.

Tropical cyclones begin over sufficiently warm ocean water, which increases evaporation. Moist air rises from the sea and cools higher in the atmosphere. Condensation releases heat, warming the surrounding air and encouraging more air to rise. This process can lower pressure near the surface and create a self-reinforcing circulation.

Air then moves inward toward the lower-pressure centre. Earth’s rotation deflects that moving air, giving the system its spin. In the Northern Hemisphere, including the Bay of Bengal, the circulation rotates counterclockwise. If the storm remains over warm water and encounters limited disruptive wind shear, its thunderstorms can organise and intensify.

For Arnab, the article records a storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal moving northwestwards toward the Andhra Pradesh coast. Its forecast sustained winds reached 115–125 kmph, with gusts up to 140 kmph. These physical processes explain why ocean storms can strengthen, though the article does not describe Arnab’s exact formation conditions.