Cyclone Arnab floods Chhattisgarh; schools shut, dam gates open statewide
Synopsis
Cyclone Arnab has turned Chhattisgarh into a flood zone — 14 dam gates thrown open, hundreds of villages on alert, and schools shut statewide. With Odisha's Khatiguda Dam also releasing water into the Indravati, the downstream threat to districts like Sukma and Bijapur is far from over even as the cyclone weakens.
Key Takeaways
Cyclone Arnab has brought three consecutive days of torrential rain to Chhattisgarh as of 26 September 2026 .
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai ordered a statewide school holiday on Saturday for all government, private, and aided schools.
All 14 gates of the Gangrel Dam in Dhamtari opened after the reservoir hit over 98 per cent capacity, releasing ~ 50,000 cusecs into the Mahanadi .
Hundreds of villages in Sukma , Kanker , Bijapur , Jagdalpur , Narayanpur , and Dantewada face imminent flood threat from upstream dam releases.
Two security guards trapped by floodwaters in Bamhani village, Mahasamund district, were successfully rescued.
Authorities have identified safe relocation sites for riverside villages and placed rescue teams on standby statewide.
Cyclone Arnab, which originated over the Bay of Bengal, has lashed Chhattisgarh with three consecutive days of torrential rainfall as of 26 September 2026, severely disrupting daily life across the Raipur, Bilaspur, Bastar, Durg, and Surguja divisions. State authorities have issued Orange and Yellow alerts for several districts, with rivers swollen dangerously and inter-district road connectivity severed in multiple areas.
Schools Shut Statewide
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai ordered a complete holiday for all government, private, and aided schools across the state on Saturday. In a post on his X handle, Sai said, 'Heavy rains could lead to waterlogging, rising water levels in rivers and streams, and difficulties in commuting. The decision ensures schoolchildren face no risks.' He urged parents to keep children at home, remain vigilant, and avoid unnecessary travel. District Collectors and concerned departments have been instructed to stay on high alert and implement the order effectively.
Dam Releases Compound Flood Threat
All 14 gates of the Gangrel Dam in Dhamtari have been opened after the reservoir reached over 98 per cent capacity, releasing approximately 50,000 cusecs of water into the Mahanadi via the Rudri Barrage. The Murumsilli Dam has hit 100 per cent capacity, while the Dudhawa and Sondhur dams in Balod have crossed 90 per cent. The overflowing Hatkul River near Dhamtari headquarters has cut off several surrounding villages. Water releases from the Bango Dam in Korba and the Khatiguda Dam in Odisha — totalling around 500,000 cubic metres — have rapidly raised the level of the Indravati River, threatening hundreds of villages in Sukma, Kanker, Bijapur, Jagdalpur, Narayanpur, and Dantewada.
Rescue Operations Underway
In Bamhani village, Mahasamund district, two security guards — Chhagan Lal Kurre and Eid Kumar Tandan — were trapped by floodwaters surrounding a government liquor shop. The two released a video confirming they were safe, and a rescue team subsequently evacuated them successfully. Authorities have issued alerts for 18 villages along the riverbanks in Mahasamund, with the Mahanadi River rising sharply due to both continuous rainfall and releases from the Gangrel Dam.
Bastar Bears the Brunt
The Bastar division and adjoining districts have faced the most severe impact, with torrential rain causing most rivers and streams to overflow and submerging main roads. Inter-district connectivity has been completely severed in several pockets. District administrations have placed rescue teams on standby, identified safe relocation sites in every riverside village along the Mahanadi, and directed officials to maintain round-the-clock vigilance.
What Comes Next
Authorities report that the system is gradually weakening, but downstream flood risk from dam releases remains elevated across southern Chhattisgarh. State agencies are continuing to monitor river levels closely, and citizen safety remains the stated top priority as relief and rescue operations stay on full alert.
Point of View
Murumsilli, Bango, and Odisha's Khatiguda all discharging simultaneously — reveal a structural vulnerability in how Chhattisgarh and its upstream neighbour coordinate flood management. The downstream surge into Sukma, Bijapur, and Dantewada is as much a dam-operations problem as a weather event. These districts, already among India's most administratively stressed, have limited evacuation infrastructure, making the timing of releases critical. The school closure is the right call, but the bigger question is whether inter-state dam-release protocols exist and whether they are fast enough to protect communities before river levels become unmanageable.
NationPress
26 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cyclone Arnab and how did it affect Chhattisgarh?
Cyclone Arnab formed over the Bay of Bengal and brought three consecutive days of torrential rainfall to Chhattisgarh by 26 September 2026. It severely disrupted life across the Raipur, Bilaspur, Bastar, Durg, and Surguja divisions, submerging roads, swelling rivers, and triggering Orange and Yellow weather alerts across several districts.
Why were schools closed across Chhattisgarh?
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai ordered a statewide school holiday on Saturday for all government, private, and aided schools due to the risk of waterlogging, rising river levels, and commuting difficulties caused by Cyclone Arnab. He urged parents to keep children home and avoid unnecessary travel.
Which dams have been opened and what is the flood risk downstream?
All 14 gates of the Gangrel Dam in Dhamtari were opened after it crossed 98 per cent capacity, releasing around 50,000 cusecs into the Mahanadi. Additional releases from the Bango Dam in Korba and Odisha's Khatiguda Dam have rapidly raised the Indravati River, threatening hundreds of villages in Sukma, Kanker, Bijapur, Jagdalpur, Narayanpur, and Dantewada.
Which parts of Chhattisgarh have been worst affected?
The Bastar division and adjoining districts have borne the brunt of the cyclone, with overflowing rivers severing inter-district road connectivity. Mahasamund district has also seen significant flooding, with the Mahanadi rising sharply and 18 riverside villages placed on alert.
What rescue operations are underway?
District administrations have placed rescue teams on standby statewide and identified safe relocation sites in riverside villages along the Mahanadi. In a specific incident in Bamhani village, Mahasamund, two trapped security guards were successfully evacuated after floodwaters surrounded a government building.
