Cyclone Arnab: Odisha prepares to airlift people stranded by floods

Odisha Disaster Response Force personnel rescue people in Sorada area of Ganjam district in Odisha following the flood situation caused by Cyclone Arnab on Thursday (October 29, 2026). | Photo credit: Special arrangement

Roads were cut off and hundreds of villages were inundated by floods in Ganjam and Gajapati districts of Urina as the state government prepared to airlift people stranded by the deluge on Thursday (Oct 29, 2026).

Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to inquire about the situation after cyclonic storm Arnab weakened.

Watch Cyclone Arnab LIVE updates on 29th October

“We have been informed that about 2,000 people have been stranded in Ganjam district and have been cut off by floodwaters from all sides. The district collector is on the spot and monitoring the rescue operations. We are in constant touch with the home ministry,” said state secretary Anu Garg.

Ms Garg said the Indian Coast Guard was on alert with rescue helicopters. However, persistent rain and low-hanging clouds made air operations difficult. Meanwhile, Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams were working to rescue as many stranded people as possible.

Sources said the administration is favoring immediate airlift of about 100 villagers from Sanakhemundi, Asika and Gopalpur area of Ganjam district.

“Heavy rain in the last 24 hours has left several villages and towns submerged in Ganjam and Gajapati districts. We hope that the water level will recede in the next five to six hours. The government will subsequently intensify rescue operations,” the chief secretary said.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), rainfall stations at Patrapur and Sorada in Ganjam district recorded 546 mm and 503 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours ending at 8:30 am on Thursday, October 29 under the influence of cyclonic storm Arnab. G. Udayagiri in Kandhamal district and Mahendragarh in Gajapati district also recorded more than 400 mm rainfall during the period. Three localities in central and south Odisha recorded rainfall exceeding 300 mm, while eight others received more than 200 mm.

The cyclonic storm caused widespread rainfall in southern and southwestern Odisha. More than 200 villages in 22 blocks across Ganjam and Gajapati districts were severely affected. The state government has deployed 15 additional ODRAF units to Ganjam to intensify rescue and relief operations.

A stretch of National Highway 326 connecting Ganjam to the Mohan was washed away by swirling floods, severely disrupting road connectivity in the region. Road infrastructure also suffered extensive damage in Gajapati district. The hilly terrain made the situation worse, as torrents of rainwater rushed down the hill into low-lying areas, causing minor landslides and damaging infrastructure. Floodwaters flowed over major roads at several places and halted vehicular movement in two districts.

The floods also damaged paddy crops in parts of southern Odisha that were about to be harvested, dealing a blow to farmers besides disrupting normal life and transport.

Published – 29 Oct 2026 13:37 IST