Odisha readies air evacuations as Cyclone Arnab leaves 300 Ganjam villages stranded

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is coordinating with the Union Home Ministry to airlift people from Ganjam district, where nearly 300 villages have been cut off by heavy rain and flash floods caused by Cyclone Arnab, a senior state official said on Thursday. Chief Secretary Anu Garg said teams from the National Disaster Response Force and the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force have already begun rescue operations in the affected areas. However, air evacuations may be delayed because of low cloud cover and continued rainfall.

Officials said Sorada is among the worst-hit areas in Ganjam, as the Rushikulya river has overflowed after three days of extremely heavy rain, flooding nearby towns and villages. In Aska, the river is flowing close to its danger mark. Digapahandi block has also been witnessing nonstop rain for the past two days, leading to flooding, they added.

Garg reviewed the situation in a meeting held in the state capital and later told reporters that Ganjam district has suffered severe damage due to the intense rainfall. She said around 300 villages have been marooned by the rain and flash floods. “The state government is in touch with the Ministry of Home Affairs, and arrangements are being made to airlift some people from the marooned areas.

The Indian Coast Guard will provide a chopper and make the necessary arrangements,” she said. The state plans to airlift 120 people in the first phase, but the operation may be delayed as cloud cover remains low and rain continues, Garg added. “We are hopeful that the rain will subside, which will allow our rescue teams to reach the affected people.

We have sent an additional ODRAF team to Ganjam, and a senior officer is monitoring the evacuation efforts,” she said. Odisha Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena said most of the marooned people are in villages under the Sanakhemundi and Aska blocks. The chief secretary also said heavy rainfall has disrupted rail services in Srikakulam district of neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

“A railway bridge has been submerged in Srikakulam, bringing train movement on both sides to a halt,” Garg said, adding that authorities were planning to rescue stranded passengers by road. If road rescue is not possible, the passengers will be accommodated at nearby railway stations, where arrangements are being made to provide them with essential facilities, she said. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has assured the Odisha government and other states of all possible support in dealing with the effects of Cyclone Arnab.

“Spoke with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and briefed him on the impact of Cyclone Arnab across Odisha, the prevailing situation in the affected districts, and the relief and restoration measures being undertaken by the state government. “He assured all possible assistance to Odisha in the wake of the cyclone. The support and cooperation of the Government of India will further strengthen our efforts to save lives, support affected families, and speed up relief, rehabilitation, and restoration across the state,” Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said in a post on X.

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