Cyclone after Arnab caused heavy rain disaster in Odisha’s Ganjam in Gajapati districts

A drone view of the flooded Berhampur area following Cyclone Arnab, in Ganjam, Odisha, on October 29, 2026. | Photo credit: PTI

Heavy rain triggered by Cyclone Arnab wreaked havoc in Odisha’s Ganjam, Gajapati and Kandhamal districts on Thursday (29 October 2026), washing out roads, abandoning villages and triggering landslides as state officials scrambled to restore normalcy.

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The rainfall recorded in the three districts was among the highest ever recorded. “Extremely heavy rainfall occurred over South Odisha during the last 24 hours and ended at 8:30 am on Thursday. The highest rainfall of 546 mm was recorded at Patrapur (Ganjam), followed by 503 mm at Sorada (Ganjam), 462 mm at G. Udayagiri (Kandhamal), 38858 mm at Mahenjagarpatih Sanakhemundi (Ganjam) and 309 mm at Chikiti (Ganjam),” the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

The section of National Highway 326 connecting Berhampur with Mohana was washed away by swirling floods, disrupting road connectivity. Road infrastructure also suffered extensive damage in Gajapati district. The hilly terrain compounded the situation as torrential rainwater rushed down the hill into low-lying areas, triggering landslides and damaging infrastructure. At several places, flood water overflowed the main roads and halted vehicular movement in two districts.

In Ganjam district alone, 42,500 people were displaced by the floods, while 11,000 people were shifted from vulnerable areas to designated shelters.

The Coast Guard is responding

With roads cut off and hundreds of villages inundated by floods in Ganjam, the state government got the Coast Guard to airlift people stranded in Dharakote block.

“In response to a distress call received from the Ganjam district administration on the morning of 29 October 2026, the Coast Guard Air Enclave, Bhubaneswar scrambled an ALH Mk-III helicopter despite adverse weather conditions,” the Coast Guard said in a statement.

“Despite challenging conditions, the aircrew located the heavily inundated public health center in Jagmohan, where people were trapped in the floodwaters after the storm. The crew, hovering just above the submerged area, successfully pulled six people, including two women, two children and an elderly person, to safety,” the statement said.

The cyclonic storm caused widespread rainfall in the southern and southwestern districts of Odisha. More than 200 villages in 22 blocks across Ganjam and Gajapati districts were severely affected. Life was paralyzed in many parts of Ganjam as floodwaters inundated villages and towns. The state government has deployed 15 more units of the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) to Ganjam to intensify rescue and relief operations. Rushikulya, Vansadhara and Mahendratanaya rivers were in flood.

State Chief Secretary Anu Garg said, “Heavy rain in the last 24 hours has left several villages and towns submerged in Ganjam and Gajapati districts. We hope the water level will recede with time.”

Crops damaged

Apart from disrupting normal life and transport, the floods also damaged paddy crops nearing harvest in parts of southern Odisha, dealing a blow to farmers.

Meanwhile, East Coast Railway said train services in Ichchapuram-Jhadupudi section of Visakhapatnam division were affected due to water flowing above the danger level over Bridge No. 1052. Dozens of trains were canceled and diverted.

Published – 29 Oct 2026 22:23 IST