Cyclone Arnab: 17 Odisha districts affected by heavy rain, Gajapati worst hit

Cyclone Arnab affected 17 districts of Odisha after crossing the Andhra Pradesh coast. The heaviest impacts were concentrated in southern Odisha, where heavy rain and strong winds disrupted conditions. The Central Water Commission also warned of possible flooding in several river basins and tributaries.

Gajapati was described as the worst-hit district because it experienced especially intense rainfall and was expected to face more severe weather. Mahendragarh in Gajapati recorded the highest rain at 25 centimetres. Mohana block there also recorded 182.4 millimetres in 24 hours.

The danger was continuing rather than over. Heavy to very heavy rain, including extremely heavy rain at one or two places, was forecast in Gajapati, Ganjam, Rayagada, Koraput, Nabarangpur and Malkangiri. Winds were also expected to reach 60–70 kmph, with gusts up to 80 kmph.

A severe cyclonic storm is a large, organized tropical weather system that rotates around a central low-pressure area. It draws energy from warm ocean water and can produce powerful winds, intense rain and flooding. An ordinary rainstorm is usually smaller and less organized, with rainfall as its main hazard.

The key difference is the storm’s structure and strength. A cyclone can cover a broad area and keep bringing dangerous weather for many hours. Its winds can damage buildings, uproot trees and make travel unsafe. Its rainfall can also overwhelm rivers, drains and low-lying communities.

The article reports squally winds of 40–50 kmph, gusting to 60 kmph, over southern Odisha. In several districts, winds were expected to rise to 60–70 kmph, with gusts up to 80 kmph. Heavy to extremely heavy rainfall was also forecast. These combined hazards made Arnab far more dangerous than a routine rainstorm.

Cyclone Arnab produced very heavy rain across southern Odisha and brought strong, shifting winds. In the past 24 hours, 17 blocks recorded average rainfall of at least 100 millimetres. The highest block total was 188 millimetres at Pottangi in Koraput.

Rain gauge readings showed even more intense local downpours. Mahendragarh in Gajapati recorded 25 centimetres, while Pottangi recorded 19 centimetres. Winds were 40–50 kmph, gusting to 60 kmph, and were expected to strengthen to 60–70 kmph, gusting to 80 kmph, in six districts.

The government moved 43,827 people into 634 relief camps across eight districts. This evacuation reduced exposure to flooding, wind damage and unsafe travel. Forecasts indicated that heavy rainfall would continue until the morning of October 29, while winds would gradually weaken after that. The figures show both the storm’s intensity and the scale of the response.

Very heavy rain raises river levels because water accumulates faster than soil, drains and river channels can absorb or carry it away. Once the ground becomes saturated, more rain flows over the surface into streams and rivers. Tributaries add further water, increasing pressure downstream.

The danger is especially serious in lower river reaches. Rain may fall across a wide upstream basin, then move toward low-lying downstream areas. If rainfall continues for several days, river channels can remain swollen even after rain eases locally. Flooding can therefore develop gradually or worsen after the heaviest rain.

The Central Water Commission warned of higher-than-normal water levels and an above-normal flood situation in the lower reaches of the Mahanadi, Baitrani, Brahmani, Indravathi, Vamshadhara, Nagavalli, Sabari, Rishikulya, Daya and Bhargavi. It also identified small tributaries of the lower Godavari and small east-flowing rivers as possible flood areas.

The Central Water Commission focuses on water hazards. It warned that continued very heavy to extremely heavy rain could push rivers above normal levels and cause flooding in lower reaches. This information helps authorities prepare for rising water and possible evacuations.

The India Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, provides weather forecasts and updates. Director Manorama Mohanty reported current wind speeds, expected gusts and districts likely to receive heavy, very heavy or extremely heavy rain. Such forecasts show where danger may intensify and when conditions may improve.

Disaster-response teams carry out operations on the ground. Odisha deployed 313 response teams, including 60 ODRAF teams and nine NDRF teams. The government also evacuated 43,827 people to 634 relief camps across eight districts. These teams and local authorities can support rescues, move residents, maintain emergency services and reduce deaths while the storm and flooding continue.

Pregnant women nearing delivery need reliable access to skilled medical care. A cyclone can make roads dangerous, delay ambulances and isolate communities through flooding. Moving them before the worst weather places them near health centres, where labour and emergencies can be managed more safely.

Odisha made special arrangements for this group. It shifted 2,245 pregnant women to nearby health centres. During the movement of Cyclone Arnab, 931 babies were born. The action shows how disaster planning can protect people whose medical needs cannot wait for the weather to improve.

Other measures include early evacuation from flood-prone or weak structures, well-equipped relief camps, clear warnings and transport for people needing help. Authorities can also pre-position rescue teams, medical staff, food, water and essential medicines. The government deployed 313 response teams and aimed for zero casualties, combining preparation with rapid assistance during the storm.

In general, tropical cyclones begin over warm ocean water. Heat causes moist air to rise, lowering pressure near the surface. More air moves in, rises and releases heat as water vapour condenses. Earth’s rotation helps organize the winds into a rotating system. If the ocean remains warm and upper-air conditions support development, the cyclone can strengthen.

A mature cyclone can carry powerful winds and large amounts of moisture toward land. When it reaches the coast, it may bring intense rainfall, flooding and damaging winds. The article’s account of Arnab shows these linked hazards: rainfall reached 25 centimetres at Mahendragarh, while winds were forecast to gust to 80 kmph.

India’s eastern coast is especially exposed because it faces the Bay of Bengal, a region where tropical cyclones commonly approach land. Odisha’s southern districts were directly affected after Arnab crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast. The article itself does not explain cyclone formation or regional exposure, so this background comes from established meteorological knowledge.