Cyclone Arnab Nears South Odisha; Heavy Rain, Strong Winds Trigger High Alert
Bhubaneswar: South Odisha remained on high alert on Wednesday as Cyclone Arnab continued its inland movement after making landfall along the Andhra Pradesh-Yanam coast.
The storm is expected to cross parts of South Odisha before moving further towards Chhattisgarh, bringing heavy rainfall and strong winds across several districts.
According to the Regional Meteorological Centre, the cyclone’s rain bands have already impacted districts including Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati and Ganjam, triggering continuous rainfall and gusty winds.
Authorities have warned residents to remain indoors and avoid unnecessary travel as weather conditions are expected to remain adverse through the day.
Manorama Mohanty, Director of the Regional Meteorological Centre, said wind speeds of 60-70 kmph with gusts reaching up to 80 kmph could affect inland areas of South Odisha.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warnings for Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Gajapati and Kalahandi districts, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall.
The persistent downpour has also heightened the risk of localised landslides in hilly regions.
Officials said the cyclone initially made landfall with sustained wind speeds of 115-125 kmph and gusts up to 140 kmph.
While the system is expected to weaken gradually as it travels inland, authorities cautioned that the threat of flooding, waterlogging, strong winds and landslides remains significant.
District administrations have stepped up preparedness measures and urged people in vulnerable areas to follow official advisories and stay alert until weather conditions improve.
