Odisha Prepares to Airlift People Stranded by Floodwaters After Cyclone Arnab

On Thursday, October 29, 2026, the Odisha government prepared to airlift people stranded by floodwaters as Cyclonic Storm Arnab weakened, leaving roads cut off and hundreds of villages inundated in the Ganjam and Gajapati districts.

Flood Situation and Rescue Operations

State Chief Secretary Anu Garg stated that approximately 2,000 people were reported marooned in Ganjam district, completely cut off by floodwaters. The administration prioritized the immediate airlifting of around 100 villagers from Sanakhemundi, Asika, and the Gopalpur area of Ganjam district. While the Indian Coast Guard stood by with rescue helicopters, persistent rain and low-hanging clouds hampered aerial operations. Meanwhile, teams from the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), including 15 additional units deployed to Ganjam, worked on the ground alongside district authorities.

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to assess the situation and assured central support.
• Mr. Shah noted that National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams were engaged in rescue and relief operations.
• A stretch of National Highway 326 connecting Ganjam with Mohana was washed away, and road infrastructure suffered extensive damage in Gajapati district due to torrents of rainwater and minor landslides.

Rainfall Impact and Weather Data

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), heavy rainfall battered southern and southwestern Odisha over the 24 hours ending at 8.30 a.m. on Thursday, October 29, 2026, under the influence of the system.

• Rain gauge stations at Patrapur and Sorada in Ganjam district recorded 546 mm and 503 mm of rainfall, respectively.
• G. Udayagiri in Kandhamal district and Mahendragarh in Gajapati district recorded over 400 mm of rainfall.
• More than 200 villages across 22 blocks in Ganjam and Gajapati districts were severely affected.

Infrastructure and Agricultural Damage

The floods disrupted transport and normal life, washing out major road stretches and causing floodwaters to flow over roads at multiple locations. Paddy crops nearing harvest in parts of southern Odisha were damaged, impacting farmers. Additionally, the storm's impact extended to parts of Jharkhand, where an orange alert for heavy rainfall was issued for several districts until October 30. Readers can verify official updates through announcements by the India Meteorological Department and the Odisha State Government.