Cyclone Arnab: Odisha announces evacuation 48,000 in eight districts

Dark clouds hovering in the sky atop of Bhubaneswar due to cyclone ‘Arnab’ approaching towards the eastern cost of Bay of Bengal Sea.

Odisha government on Tuesday (October 27, 2026) the State would evacuate 48,000 people to safer places in eight southern Odisha districts in view of strong wind and heavy rain likely to be caused by very severe cyclonic storm “Arnab”, which is heading towards Andhra Pradesh coast.

Addressing a press conference, Rajesh Pravakar Patil, Special Relief Commissioner, said the very severe cyclonic storm “Arnab”, which was moving with a speed of 22 kmph during past 6 hours, would impact Odisha’s Malkangiri district when it would cross Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam on October 28, 2026

“We have planned to shift 48,000 people from vulnerable places to safer place in the first phase in eight districts. In Nabarangpur and Gajapati district, 11,000 each will be evacuated. In Malkangiri, 9850 people have been identified for shifting. About 6500 in Ganjam and 5000 in Koraput will take shelter in identified locations,” said Mr. Patil.

He said at some places evacuation was nearing completion while the shifting of people would continue through out the day.

“Senior officers have already been deployed in districts which are to be impacted most. The State has disbursed Rs. 19 crore among different districts from State Disaster Relief Fund to meet emergency expenses,” he pointed out.

As many as 48 units of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force, eight National Disaster Response Force teams and 225 fire services teams have been deployed. The State government on Tuesday announced closure of schools and colleges (upto Standard XII)

“As of now no the State has not received heavy rainfall. As the day passes, the intensity of rain is likely to increase,” he pointed out.

Meanwhile, according India Meteorological Department, the very severe cyclonic storm “Arnab” over westcentral Bay of Bengal moved nearly westwards with a speed of 22 kmph during past 6 hours, and lay centered over the same region 260 km southeast of Vishakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), 300 km east-southeast of Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh), 380 km south of Gopalpur (Odisha), 390 km east of Machilipatnam (Andhra Pradesh), 460 km east of Bapatla (Andhra Pradesh) and 980 km west-northwest of Sri Vijaya Puram (Andaman Islands) on Tuesday (October 27, 2026).

It is very likely to move west-northwestwards till evening of October 27, and thereafter, it is very likely to move northwestwards and cross Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Yanam as a very severe cyclonic storm with the maximum sustained windspeed of 115-125 kmph gusting to 140 kmph by forenoon of October 28, 2026.

weather news / weather / cyclones / Odisha