Cyclone Arnab Leaves 300 Odisha Villages Marooned, Airlifts Planned

Odisha is preparing emergency air evacuations in Ganjam district after heavy rain and flash floods triggered by Cyclone Arnab left around 300 villages marooned, prompting authorities to step up rescue operations and seek central assistance.

The cyclone has also caused significant damage in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh after making landfall on Wednesday, October 28.

At least five people have died, more than 20,000 people were evacuated from coastal areas, and 31 houses were reported damaged. A total of 714 villages were affected. The storm has since weakened into a deep depression, but heavy rainfall continues to affect parts of both states.

Chief Secretary Anu Garg said on Thursday that the Odisha government was coordinating with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to evacuate people stranded in areas inaccessible to conventional rescue teams.

The Indian Coast Guard is expected to provide a helicopter to support the operation.

Rescue Teams Mobilised 

Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) are carrying out rescue operations in Ganjam, where around 300 villages remain marooned.

Chief Secretary Anu Garg reviewed the situation at a meeting in the state capital before confirming that the government was coordinating with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to arrange air evacuations.

The government plans to airlift 120 people in the first phase, although the operation may be delayed by unfavourable weather. An additional ODRAF team has been deployed to Ganjam, with a senior officer monitoring evacuation efforts.

Odisha Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena said several affected villages were in the Sanakhemundi and Aska blocks, where flooding has disrupted access.

Floodwaters Swamp Villages Across Ganjam

Sorada is among the worst-hit areas in Ganjam, where the Rushikulya river has overflowed after three days of extremely heavy rainfall, inundating nearby towns and villages. In Aska, the river is flowing close to the danger mark.

Digapahandi block has also experienced incessant rain over the past two days, triggering flooding in several areas and making access to affected communities more difficult.

With roads disrupted and water levels remaining high, authorities are preparing air evacuations for residents who cannot be reached safely by ground-based rescue teams. The timing of the operation will depend partly on whether weather conditions improve.

Floods Disrupt Rail Services in Andhra Pradesh 

Odisha Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena said most of the marooned people are in villages across Sanakhemundi and Aska blocks.

Chief Secretary Anu Garg said heavy rainfall had also disrupted rail services in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

If road evacuations prove impossible, passengers may be accommodated at nearby railway stations, where essential facilities are being arranged.

Shah Assures Odisha of Assistance

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said he had spoken with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and briefed him on Cyclone Arnab’s impact, the situation in affected districts, and the state’s relief and restoration efforts.

He assured of all possible assistance to Odisha in the wake of the cyclone. The support and cooperation of the Government of India will further strengthen our efforts to protect lives, support affected families and expedite relief, rehabilitation and restoration across the state,” Majhi said in an X post.

Weather Hampers Rescue Efforts 

The immediate priority remains reaching people cut off by floodwaters while conditions continue to hamper rescue efforts. Although ground teams are operating in the affected areas, low clouds and persistent rain may restrict helicopter operations.

The planned first-phase evacuation of 120 people is a targeted effort to reach those in need of urgent assistance.

The pace of further evacuations will depend on weather conditions, access to marooned communities and the progress of ongoing rescue operations.