Bhubaneswar: A deep depression currently hovering over eastcentral and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal has triggered a cyclone alert for Odisha and neighbouring coastal regions.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the system intensified into deep depression at 11.30 am on Friday and is moving towards southwest direction at a speed of 5 kmph. “Continuing to move west-northwestwards, it is very likely to intensify further into a cyclonic storm over the eastcentral & adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal by October 26 morning, and into a severe cyclonic storm over westcentral Bay of Bengal around morning of October 27. Thereafter, it is very likely to move northwestwards, intensify further into a very severe cyclonic storm and reach Westcentral Bay of Bengal near Andhra Pradesh coast around morning of October 28,” the weather agency said in a special bulletin.
The storm will be named Arnab, which translates to “ocean” in Bengali, contributed by Bangladesh as part of the regional tropical cyclone naming roster maintained by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the IMD.
While the primary landfall is projected between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam with maximum sustained wind speeds reaching 115 to 125 kmph gusting to 140 kmph, the impending severe weather system will extensively impact districts across Odisha with heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and gusty winds starting from October 27.
The IMD has issued specific red, orange, and yellow warnings mapping out the anticipated severity across various districts of Odisha:
Red Warning: Valid from 8.30 am of October 28 to 8.30 am of October 29, indicating heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places with extremely heavy rainfall at one or two places, alongside thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty surface winds reaching 50 to 60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph over the districts of Gajapati, Ganjam, Rayagada, Koraput, and Malkangiri.
Orange Warning: Issued for October 27 for heavy to very heavy rainfall and thunderstorms over Gajapati, Ganjam, Rayagada, Koraput, and Malkangiri. Additionally, an orange warning is active for October 28 for heavy to very heavy rainfall and gusty winds reaching 40 to 50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph over Kalahandi, Kandhamala, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Balangir, Baragada, Puri, Khordha, and Nayagada, as well as for Sundargarh on October 29.
Yellow Warning: Issued across multiple phases for various districts. On October 27, heavy rainfall and gusty winds (30 to 40 kmph gusting to 50 kmph) are expected in Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Kataka, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj, Kandhamala, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Khordha, Nayagarh, Jagatsinghpur, and Puri. On October 28, yellow warnings cover districts including Sundaragada, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Debagada, Mayurbhanj, Anugola, Dhenkanal, Kendujhar, Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Kataka, Sonpur, and Boudh. Yellow warnings extend further into October 29-30 for northern districts like Mayurbhanj, Kendujhar, Baleshwar, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, and Debagada as the system gradually moves away.
Meanwhile, Khordha district administration has cancelled the leave of all government employees from October 26 to 31 in view of the developing weather system. According to an order issued by the Khordha Collector, all government officials in the district have been directed to remain at their respective headquarters until further orders. The order states that no official will be allowed to leave their headquarters without the express permission of the competent authority, and all leave already sanctioned has been cancelled, with employees currently on leave directed to return to duty immediately.
Similar administrative actions are underway in other vulnerable areas. The Ganjam district administration previously cancelled employee leaves and held a preparatory meeting to ready cyclone and temporary shelters capable of accommodating 1.5 lakh people. Across the state, disaster-response forces, including the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and fire services personnel, have been placed on high alert or deployed to tackle potential flooding and rain-related emergencies.
Engineering departments have also been put on standby to ensure the immediate restoration of roads, power supplies, and infrastructure, while health authorities have been instructed to stock essential medicines and anti-snake venom.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, after reviewing preparedness at Lok Seva Bhawan, emphasised that the state government is fully prepared to tackle the cyclone with a primary objective of ensuring zero casualties.
In light of the escalating threat, President Droupadi Murmu has postponed her scheduled visit to Odisha for October 28 and 29. Furthermore, schools, colleges, and anganwadi centres will remain closed on October 28 and 29 in districts expected to bear the brunt of the storm, including Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, and Malkangiri, while collectors in other districts have been authorised to make decisions regarding educational institutions based on local conditions.
Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea along and off the Odisha coast from October 27 to October 29, as sea conditions will turn rough to very rough with squally winds reaching 40 to 50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph. Authorities have hoisted Distant Cautionary Signal No-I (DC-1) at all ports in Odisha. People residing in vulnerable structures or low-lying urban areas prone to water-logging, localized flooding, and minor landslides are urged to stay indoors, monitor official weather updates, and adhere strictly to local traffic advisories and safety guidelines.
