Cyclone Arnab has triggered a massive emergency in Odisha, leaving hundreds of villages affected by flooding, heavy rainfall and widespread disruption. More than 59,000 people have been evacuated across nine districts as authorities race against time to rescue stranded residents and restore essential services.
The evacuation includes 3,001 pregnant women. Ganjam district has witnessed the highest number of evacuations, with 11,882 people moved to safer locations.
300 Villages Hit, 70 Completely Cut Off
The impact has been particularly severe in Ganjam district, where around 300 villages have been affected by flooding. Nearly 70 villages remain cut off, creating major challenges for rescue teams trying to reach stranded residents.
Several other districts, including Gajapati, Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Nuapada and Kandhamal, have also reported damage.
313 Rescue Teams Deployed
The Odisha government has deployed 313 emergency response teams to manage the situation. These include nine National Disaster Response Force teams, 60 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force teams and 244 Fire Services teams.
Rescue operations have also involved airlifting stranded residents from locations that ground teams have struggled to access.
Roads Damaged, Trains Disrupted
The cyclone has severely affected transportation infrastructure. At least 36 trains have been cancelled and nearly 30 diverted. Floodwater has also affected National Highway-16 near the Andhra Pradesh-Odisha border, while a 300-metre stretch of National Highway-326 in Gajapati district has been washed away.
Patrapur in Ganjam recorded 546 mm of rainfall, while G Udayagiri in Kandhamal received 462.4 mm. With rescue and restoration operations continuing, the state government is focusing on bringing affected communities back to normal life.