Cyclone Arnab: Floods hit south Odisha, 62,500 affected in Ganjam and Gajapati
Synopsis
Cyclone Arnab has battered south Odisha with record-breaking rainfall — Patrapur recorded 546 mm in 24 hours — leaving 62,500 people affected across Ganjam and Gajapati, 711 villages inundated in Gajapati alone, and Indian Coast Guard helicopters airlifting residents where floodwaters blocked ground rescue teams.
Key Takeaways
Cyclone Arnab triggered severe flooding across south Odisha on 29 October 2026 , affecting around 62,500 people in Ganjam and Gajapati districts.
Patrapur in Ganjam recorded the highest rainfall at 546 mm in 24 hours, according to the IMD .
Flooding hit 299 villages in 22 blocks in Ganjam and 711 villages in seven blocks in Gajapati; 2,328 people remained marooned in Ganjam.
Over 29,300 people evacuated by NDRF , ODRAF , and Fire Services; Indian Coast Guard helicopters deployed for airlift operations.
550 pregnant women in Ganjam and 420 in Gajapati shifted to safer locations.
Train services disrupted on the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border after rising water levels threatened Railway Bridge No.
1052 near Ichchapuram.
Cyclone Arnab triggered catastrophic flooding across south Odisha on 29 October 2026, with the state government intensifying rescue and relief operations in Ganjam and Gajapati districts after exceptionally heavy rainfall swelled major rivers, washed away roads and bridges, and left thousands stranded. Around 62,500 people across both districts are affected, according to officials.
Rainfall Records and River Levels
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the region recorded exceptionally heavy rainfall in the 24 hours preceding Thursday. Patrapur in Ganjam district logged the highest rainfall at 546 mm, followed by Sorada in the same district at 503 mm, G. Udayagiri in Kandhamal at 462 mm, Mahendragarh in Gajapati at 458 mm, Sanakhemundi in Ganjam at 388 mm, and Chikiti in Ganjam at 309 mm.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, speaking to media persons on Thursday, said water levels in several rivers had risen sharply, with some flowing above their danger marks. Floodwater inundated houses in low-lying areas, forcing many residents to shelter on rooftops. Pujari added that the situation had started improving after around 4 pm on Thursday.
Scale of Damage and Displacement
Flooding severely affected 299 villages across 22 blocks in Ganjam and 711 villages across seven blocks in Gajapati. Around 42,500 people in Ganjam and 20,000 in Gajapati are affected. In Ganjam alone, 2,328 people across 70 villages remained marooned as of Thursday. Massive landslides compounded the damage to houses, roads, and vast paddy fields across the region.
Rescue Operations: NDRF, ODRAF, and Coast Guard
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), and Fire Services personnel have evacuated 11,882 people in Ganjam and 17,441 in Gajapati, shifting them to flood-cum-cyclone shelters. Where strong currents prevented ground teams from reaching stranded residents, Indian Coast Guard helicopters have been deployed for airlifts. The district Collector has been directed to identify such pockets and prioritise evacuation lists.
As many as 27 ODRAF teams, three NDRF teams, and 24 Fire Services teams have been deployed in Ganjam, while Gajapati has 12 ODRAF teams, one NDRF team, and 12 Fire Services teams. Additionally, 550 pregnant women in Ganjam and 420 in Gajapati were shifted to safer locations as a precautionary measure.
Train Services Disrupted Across Odisha and Andhra Pradesh
Rising water levels in the Bahuda River in Ganjam inundated its lower basin and caused an abnormal rise in water levels at Railway Bridge No. 1052 between Ichchapuram and Jhadupudi stations, disrupting several train services across Andhra Pradesh and Odisha's Ganjam side. Railway officials are coordinating with the administrations of Ganjam and Srikakulam to address the situation. The Chief Secretary directed the Ganjam Collector to assist stranded rail passengers and keep them informed of developments.
What Comes Next
While authorities report a gradual improvement in flood levels, several areas remain cut off and vulnerable. Relief distribution, restoration of road connectivity, and damage assessment of agricultural land — particularly the large tracts of submerged paddy fields — are expected to dominate the state administration's focus in the coming days.
Point of View
Yet the 546 mm recorded at Patrapur in a single 24-hour window signals a scale that strains even a state with relatively mature disaster infrastructure. The deployment of Coast Guard helicopters — typically a last resort — reflects how quickly ground-level operations were overwhelmed. The disruption to railway connectivity between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh is an underreported second-order consequence: it affects not just stranded passengers but supply chains and relief logistics. The larger question, as paddy fields submerge at harvest time, is whether crop compensation frameworks will be activated quickly enough to prevent rural distress from compounding the immediate humanitarian crisis.
NationPress
29 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people have been affected by Cyclone Arnab flooding in Odisha?
Around 62,500 people are affected — approximately 42,500 in Ganjam district and 20,000 in Gajapati district — following severe flooding triggered by Cyclone Arnab's exceptionally heavy rainfall across south Odisha on 29 October 2026.
Which areas recorded the heaviest rainfall due to Cyclone Arnab?
According to the IMD, Patrapur in Ganjam recorded the highest rainfall at 546 mm in 24 hours. Other heavily affected locations include Sorada (503 mm), G. Udayagiri in Kandhamal (462 mm), and Mahendragarh in Gajapati (458 mm).
What rescue operations are underway in flood-hit south Odisha?
NDRF, ODRAF, and Fire Services teams have evacuated over 29,000 people across Ganjam and Gajapati and moved them to cyclone shelters. Indian Coast Guard helicopters are airlifting residents from areas where strong currents blocked ground rescue teams.
Has the flood situation in Odisha started improving?
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said the flood situation began improving after around 4 pm on Thursday, though 2,328 people across 70 villages in Ganjam remained marooned as of the latest official update.
How has Cyclone Arnab disrupted train services?
Rising water levels in the Bahuda River caused an abnormal rise at Railway Bridge No. 1052 between Ichchapuram and Jhadupudi stations, disrupting several train services across Andhra Pradesh and Odisha's Ganjam side. Railway officials are coordinating with the Ganjam and Srikakulam administrations, and the Chief Secretary has directed the Ganjam Collector to assist stranded passengers.
