Cyclone Arnab: Odisha on high alert as storm targets AP coast on Oct 28
Synopsis
Cyclone Arnab is barrelling toward the Andhra Pradesh coast with winds of up to 150 km/h, and Odisha — all 30 districts — is in its rain shadow. With 8 NDRF teams, 40 ODRAF units, 3,000 pregnant women pre-listed for hospital transfer, and festival pandals being dismantled statewide, the scale of the state's response signals this is no ordinary pre-monsoon scare.
Key Takeaways
Cyclone Arnab is forecast to make landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast on 28 October 2026 , with wind speeds of 120–150 km/h near Visakhapatnam .
All 30 districts of Odisha will experience widespread rainfall; Malkangiri is the first district in Odisha expected to be hit.
8 NDRF and 40 ODRAF teams have been deployed, with additional units on standby in Koraput and Ganjam .
Approximately 3,000 pregnant women near delivery dates have been line-listed for hospital transfer.
Authorities have ordered dismantling of hoardings, festival pandals, and temporary structures across vulnerable districts.
All marine fishermen have been confirmed to have returned safely from the sea, per Chief Secretary Anu Garg .
Odisha has activated its full disaster response machinery ahead of Cyclone Arnab, which is expected to make landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast on 28 October 2026, bringing widespread rain and powerful winds across all 30 districts of the state. Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari confirmed the preparedness measures on 26 October, urging residents to cooperate with authorities and not panic.
What the IMD Has Forecast
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclone Arnab has already intensified and is currently moving at 15 km/h. It is expected to generate wind speeds of 120–150 km/h near Visakhapatnam before recurving southwestward. Malkangiri district is projected to be the first in Odisha to bear the brunt of the storm.
Heavy to very heavy rainfall is forecast across undivided Koraput, undivided Ganjam, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Puri, and Nayagada. Rain is set to commence on Sunday, intensifying to heavy or very heavy levels by Monday night, with strong winds and rainfall continuing through 29 October following the landfall.
Ground Preparedness and Deployments
The state government has pre-positioned 8 NDRF teams and 40 ODRAF teams on the ground, with additional units placed on standby in Koraput and Ganjam. Senior IAS officers have been stationed across districts, and experienced ministers are overseeing the 8 most vulnerable districts.
District administrations have been ordered to dismantle temporary structures, including large hoardings and festival pandals (medhas), to prevent wind-related injuries. Wind speeds of 40–50 km/h are anticipated in several districts. Public transport buses under the LAccMI scheme have been mobilised for evacuations, and health centres have been stocked with anti-venom medicines with doctors stationed on-site.
Inter-State Coordination and River Watch
Odisha is coordinating closely with Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand on upstream rainfall into the Mahanadi, Brahmani, Baitarani, and Budhabalanga river systems. State and district control rooms are operating round the clock. Chief Secretary Anu Garg confirmed that all marine fishermen have returned safely from the sea.
Vulnerable Populations and Health Measures
Chief Secretary Garg disclosed that approximately 3,000 pregnant women nearing their delivery dates have been line-listed for priority transfer to hospitals ahead of the storm's arrival. This level of healthcare pre-planning reflects the lessons absorbed from past cyclone responses in the state, where access to maternity care collapsed in isolated areas during storms such as Fani and Titli.
As Cyclone Arnab approaches, authorities are expected to scale up evacuation operations through 28 October, with the situation set to be closely monitored into the following day.
Point of View
By now, a national benchmark — the state has converted years of tragic losses into institutional muscle memory. But Cyclone Arnab's track toward the AP coast, with Odisha absorbing the northern rain bands, tests a different problem: managing a storm that is not a direct hit but still delivers sustained heavy rainfall across all 30 districts. The river coordination with Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand is the critical variable — upstream inflows into the Mahanadi system have caused inland flooding that outlasted the storm itself in previous cycles. The pre-listing of 3,000 pregnant women for hospital transfer is a telling indicator of operational maturity, yet it also underlines the depth of rural healthcare vulnerability that persists beneath the headline preparedness numbers.
NationPress
26 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Cyclone Arnab expected to make landfall?
Cyclone Arnab is expected to make landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast on 28 October 2026, with wind speeds of 120–150 km/h near Visakhapatnam before recurving southwestward.
How will Cyclone Arnab affect Odisha?
All 30 districts of Odisha will experience widespread rainfall, with heavy to very heavy downpours in several districts including Malkangiri, Koraput, Ganjam, Puri, and Sundargarh. Strong winds of 40–50 km/h are expected in some districts, and rainfall is forecast to persist through 29 October.
What disaster response has Odisha deployed for Cyclone Arnab?
Odisha has deployed 8 NDRF teams and 40 ODRAF teams, with additional units on standby in Koraput and Ganjam. Senior IAS officers and ministers have been stationed in vulnerable districts, and district and state control rooms are operating round the clock.
Who are the most vulnerable groups in Odisha ahead of Cyclone Arnab?
Approximately 3,000 pregnant women nearing delivery dates have been identified and line-listed for priority hospital transfer. Health centres have been stocked with anti-venom medicines and doctors have been stationed on-site across the state.
Have fishermen been warned about Cyclone Arnab?
Yes. Chief Secretary Anu Garg confirmed that all marine fishermen have already returned safely from the sea ahead of the storm's arrival.
