Odisha Escapes Major Damage as Cyclone Arnab Completes Landfall, Says SRC
Bhubaneswar: Odisha has largely escaped major damage from Severe Cyclonic Storm Arnab, which completed its landfall process on Wednesday morning, according to the state’s disaster management authorities.
Rajesh Prabhakar Patil, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC), said no significant loss of life or property has been reported so far following the cyclone’s impact.
The landfall process began around 2:00 a.m. and continued until approximately 8:00 a.m. Authorities closely monitored the cyclone’s movement as it crossed the Odisha coast and moved inland.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast that the storm would continue towards Malkangiri district before gradually weakening.
Heavy to very heavy rainfall was recorded in several southern Odisha districts, particularly Gajapati and Ganjam.
Mohana block in Gajapati district received 182 mm of rainfall, while Paralakhemundi recorded 140 mm during the period.
As part of precautionary measures, the state administration shifted over 2,000 pregnant women to safer facilities ahead of the cyclone’s landfall.
Emergency response teams, including ODRAF and Fire Services personnel, remained on high alert across vulnerable districts.
Officials reported incidents of uprooted trees and temporary road blockages in some areas.
However, rapid response teams cleared the obstructions promptly, helping restore normalcy and maintain connectivity.
The SRC said the overall situation remains under control, with authorities continuing to monitor weather developments and rainfall patterns.
The cyclone is expected to weaken into a depression after moving further inland, though rain is likely to continue in several parts of the state.
