Cyclone Arnab Havoc: Amit Shah Assures Full Support to Hit States; Rescue Ops on War Footing
Home Minister Amit Shah speaks with CMs of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, and Puducherry to coordinate relief after Cyclone Arnab.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has stepped in to coordinate relief efforts following the devastation caused by Cyclone Arnab assistance and its aftermath. On Thursday, the Home Minister held crucial discussions with the Chief Ministers of the affected regions, promising that the Central Government will provide every possible resource to mitigate the suffering of the people hit by the natural disaster.
High-Level Coordination for Relief
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Amit Shah confirmed that he has spoken with the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh. He emphasized the government's resolute commitment to standing by the affected populations during this crisis.
To ensure a swift recovery, the Home Minister announced that Impact Assessment Teams (IMCTs) will be deployed shortly. These teams are tasked with evaluating the scale of the damage and identifying the specific areas where further assistance is urgently required.
Rescue Operations in Full Swing
The battle against the aftermath of the storm is being fought on the ground by elite response teams. According to the Home Minister, both the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Forces (SDRF) have been mobilized.
These teams are currently conducting rescue and relief operations on a "war footing" to save lives and provide immediate aid to those stranded or displaced by the cyclone's fury.
Tracking the Storm: IMD Updates
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has provided a detailed update on the trajectory of the system, which was previously classified as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm.
Current Status of Cyclone Arnab
- Weakening System: The remnant of Cyclone Arnab, which had become a deep depression, moved northwards at a speed of 22 kmph and has now weakened further into a depression.
- Location: As of 5:30 am on Thursday, the system was centered over south Chhattisgarh and adjoining south Odisha.
- Proximity to Cities: The center was located approximately 20 km west of Jagdalpur (Chhattisgarh), 170 km southwest of Bhawanipatna (Odisha), 210 km southwest of Titlagarh (Odisha), 250 km south of Raipur, and 350 km southwest of Sambalpur (Odisha).
The IMD expects the system to continue its northward movement and further weaken into a well-marked low-pressure area by the evening of October 29, 2026. The movement is being closely monitored by Doppler Weather Radars in Raipur and Sambalpur.
New Weather Warning: Andaman Sea
While the region recovers from Cyclone Arnab, the IMD has flagged a new potential threat. A low-pressure area has formed over the south Andaman Sea and its neighborhood, triggered by an upper-air cyclonic circulation.
Meteorologists predict that this system will move west-northwestwards, likely becoming a well-marked low-pressure area over the south Andaman Sea and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands within the next 24 hours. There is a further possibility that it could concentrate into a depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas in the following 24 hours.