Bhubaneswar: Almost all blocks in Gajapati and some blocks in Ganjam received more than 150 mm of rainfall during the last 24 hours under the influence of severe cyclonic storm ‘Arnab’, Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Patil informed on Wednesday.
The storm made landfall near near Yanam in Andhra Pradesh early on Wednesday, with the complete process taking more than six hours. The India Meteorological Department had issued red alerts for extreme rainfall across multiple districts in Odisha, warning of gusty winds reaching up to 70 kmph. Heavy downpours battered several regions over a 24-hour period ending at 8.30 this morning, led by Pattangi in Koraput (188 mm) and Mohana in Gajapati (182.4 mm). Ganjam block received 161.4 mm followed by Chhatrapur (154.6 mm), and Similiguda (143.1 mm).
Highest District Averages: Gajapati (121.2 mm), Ganjam (83.1 mm), Koraput (61.0 mm), and Puri (54.2 mm).
“We are expecting heavy rains in the districts of Malkangiri, Koraput, Nuapada, and Kalahandi, and we are keeping a close watch,” Patil said.
He further informed that around 28,000 people have already been shifted to relief camps. “We have also shifted 2,200 pregnant women who had their expected delivery dates this week… Our response forces are on high alert, and the areas likely to be affected are being guarded by a sufficient number of response forces from both the State and the Centre…,” he added.
The state has deployed 313 emergency teams, comprising the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and Fire Services, equipped with over 1,500 power chain saws, dewatering pumps, and rescue boats.
According to senior meteorologist Umasankar Das, Arnab is moving at a very slow speed, advancing at a speed of 7 kmph. “Moving in a north-northwest direction, a large amount of moisture is entering the state, making the next 24 hours crucial for the state,” he posted on X.
The IMD has issued a red warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places with extremely heavy rainfall at one or two places in the districts of Gajapati, Ganjam, Rayagada, Koraput, Nabarangpur and Malkangiri till 8.30 am on October 29. Thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and gusty surface wind 60-80 kmph gusting to 90 Kmph) may also occur in these districts. Heavy to very heavy rainfall, along with thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and gusty surface wind (40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph) is also likely in Kalahandi, Kandhamala, Nuapada, Balangir, Baragada, Puri, Khordha, Nuapada, Sonpur, Boudh and Nayagada. There is also a yellow warning of heavy rainfall along with wind gusts upt to 50 kmph for Sundaragada, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Debagada, Mayurbhanj, Anugola, Dhenkanal, Kendujhar, Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghapur, and Kataka.
During the next 24 hours, heavy to very heavy rainfall, along with thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and gusty surface wind (40-50 kmph gusting to 60 Kmph) may continue in the districts of Sundaragada, Jharsuguda, and Baragada. Heavy rainfall along with strong winds is also occur at one or two places in Mayurbhanj, Kendujhar, Baleshwar, Sambalpur, Nuapada, Balangir, Sonpur, and Debagada.