Cyclone Arnab: Red alert in 5 Odisha districts; leaves cancelled, schools to be closed

The governments of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh have stepped up preparations for the depression brewing in the Bay of Bengal, which may intensify into cyclonic storm Arnab and make landfall along the Andhra coast on October 28.

Even as Odisha stepped up preparations and mobilised personnel and equipment, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday deputed eight ministers to vulnerable districts, officials said.

The IMD, in its latest bulletin, said a depression over the Bay of Bengal had moved southwestwards during the past six hours and intensified into a deep depression.

Also read: Bay of Bengal low-pressure system may intensify into Cyclone Arnab; heavy rain likely in Bengal

The system is likely to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam as a very severe cyclonic storm, with maximum wind speeds of 115-125 kmph.

It is expected to make landfall around the forenoon of October 28, with the projected landfall area around 300 km from Odisha's Gopalpur, officials said.

Ministers sent to vulnerable districts

Majhi said although the system was forecast to make landfall in Andhra Pradesh, the Odisha government would take no chances and remain fully prepared to deal with any eventuality.

He directed officials to prioritise public safety, evacuation and emergency response, reiterating the state's zero-casualty objective.

Deputy Chief Minister K V Singh Deo has been assigned Koraput, while the other Deputy Chief Minister, Pravati Parida, will oversee arrangements in Rayagada.

Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Minister Rabi Narayan Naik has been assigned Kandhamal, while Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Jena will oversee preparations in Ganjam.

Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister K C Patra will be in Nabarangpur, School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond in Malkangiri, Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj in Gajapati and Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling in Kalahandi.

The ministers will remain in their assigned districts from October 27 to 29, officials said.

Leaves cancelled

Senior officials experienced in handling extreme weather events have also been assigned responsibilities in vulnerable districts.

They include K Sudarshan Chakravarthy in Rayagada, Poma Tudu in Koraput, Bijay Kumar Dash in Gajapati, Yedula Vijay in Malkangiri and Maheshwar Swain in Nabarangpur, according to a separate notification.

In another order, the state government cancelled the leave of all district collectors, district magistrates and other officers posted in critical offices in view of the impending cyclone.

Also read: Andhra Pradesh braces for possible cyclone on October 28; Odisha issues red alert

They have been directed to return to their respective headquarters immediately to ensure administrative readiness, a notification issued by the General Administration Department said.

Schools, colleges to stay closed on Oct 28, 29

Majhi said the cyclone could affect Odisha with heavy rainfall in southern and coastal districts and gusty winds of 70-90 kmph. Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri are likely to be the worst-affected districts, while significant rainfall is expected in other coastal areas, he added.

The chief minister ordered the closure of all schools, colleges and Anganwadi centres in these five districts on October 28 and 29.

Collectors in other districts will decide on closing educational institutions depending on the evolving situation, he said, directing officials to shift people from vulnerable areas to safer locations, with particular attention to elderly persons, patients and pregnant women, who should be moved to health facilities if necessary.

Rescue teams of the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Fire Services have been positioned in vulnerable areas, he said.

"Around 60 ODRAF teams and 17 NDRF teams have been deployed, while 225 Fire Services teams are on high alert," Majhi said.

Collectors in coastal and southern districts have been directed to keep cyclone shelters ready for people who may need to be evacuated.

Rescue teams ready, shelters arranged

Ganjam District Collector Keerthi Vasan V said 100 cyclone shelters had been kept ready and 1,000 temporary locations identified to accommodate people if evacuation becomes necessary.

The chief minister also directed departments, including Health and Family Welfare, Water Resources, Energy, Agriculture, Panchayati Raj, Rural Development and engineering services, to remain prepared and promptly repair any damage caused by the cyclone and associated rainfall.

Meanwhile, the IMD forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall across Odisha for three days from October 27 to 29.

The government has issued a red alert for five vulnerable southern districts — Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri — for October 28. These districts could receive heavy to very heavy rainfall, with isolated extremely heavy downpours exceeding 20 cm.

Also read: Tamil Nadu rains: Flooding hits southern districts, reservoir levels rise

The rainfall is likely to be accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and gusty surface winds reaching 60-70 kmph, the IMD said.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea from October 24.

The IMD also advised keeping hoist Distant Cautionary Signal No-I (DC-1) at all ports of Odisha.

Andhra's order to power utilities

Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Minister G Ravi Kumar on Sunday directed power utilities to take precautionary measures to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply amid the threat of Cyclone Arnab.

Kumar held a teleconference with the chairpersons and managing directors of distribution companies (DISCOMs), directors and district-level officials to review preparedness and assess measures to ensure uninterrupted power supply during heavy rainfall and strong winds.

"Officials should ensure round-the-clock availability of field personnel and undertake immediate restoration of power supply wherever disruptions occur amid the threat posed by Cyclone Arnab," the state Energy minister said in a press release.

He stressed the need for planning to prevent loss of life and damage to property.

Officials at the district, mandal and village levels were directed to remain accessible and coordinate with other government departments to ensure a swift response to emergencies, he said.

Officials informed the minister that 25,000 electric poles and other essential materials had been kept ready to meet emergency requirements.

The Southern Power Distribution Company of Andhra Pradesh (SPDCL) was prepared to deploy additional personnel in areas likely to be severely affected.

Advisory for residents

Kumar directed officials to identify and remove hazardous hoardings in coordination with the departments concerned and take all necessary precautions to prevent electrical accidents.

He urged people to exercise caution during the cyclone and heavy rainfall and advised them to keep away from fallen electric wires and damaged electricity poles.

Also read: Nilgiris mudslides: Bus buried, driver killed; Keralam students have narrow escape

He asked the public to report electricity-related complaints and emergencies to the toll-free helpline 1912, emphasising the importance of public safety and prompt power restoration.

Special Chief Secretary, Energy, K Vijayanand directed power utilities to implement emergency preparedness measures on a war footing.

CMDs, directors to camp in vulnerable areas

CMDs and directors were instructed to camp in vulnerable areas from October 26 until the cyclone threat subsided, he said.

He restricted routine leave for zonal chief engineers, superintending engineers and key technical personnel involved in disaster management to ensure their availability throughout the emergency.