Cyclone Arnab Havoc: Coast Guard Executes Daring Airlift to Save Stranded Souls in Odisha
The Indian Coast Guard executed a daring airlift operation in Odisha to rescue six people stranded by Cyclone Arnab's floodwaters.
As Cyclone Arnab rescue operation efforts intensify across the eastern coast of India, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has stepped in with high-stakes aerial maneuvers to save lives. Amidst the chaos caused by the storm, the ICG Regional Headquarters (North East) has placed all its air and surface assets on high alert, prioritizing Search and Rescue (SAR) and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) missions to combat the devastation.
Precision Rescue in Jagmohan
The urgency of the situation became clear on the morning of October 29, 2026, when the Ganjam District Administration issued a distress call. Despite the severe and unpredictable weather conditions, the Coast Guard Air Enclave in Bhubaneswar scrambled an ALH Mk-III helicopter to the site.
The crew faced challenging elements as they flew toward Jagmohan, where they located a Public Health Centre (PHC) that had been heavily inundated by post-storm floodwaters. With people trapped inside the submerged facility, the aircrew performed a precision hover over the area. Using a winch system, they successfully rescued six individuals, including:
- Two women
- Two children
- One elderly person
- One other adult
Following the rescue, the survivors were airlifted and safely transferred to the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Dharakote for further care.
Flood Crisis in Gajapati District
While the airlift saved lives in Ganjam, the Gajapati district has been reeling from relentless rainfall since Wednesday. The Mahendratanaya River basin has seen a dramatic rise in water levels, triggering a flood-like situation that has paralyzed daily life.
Severe waterlogging has been reported in the Goshani block, with floodwaters breaching areas such as Bapuji Peinth, Bhinnala, and Baghasala. The rising streams have not only entered residential villages but have also submerged vast stretches of agricultural fields, leaving local farmers and residents in a state of distress.
Central Government Steps In
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has assured the affected states of full support from the central government. In a statement shared on X, the Home Minister confirmed that he has been in communication with the Chief Ministers of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Puducherry, and Andhra Pradesh.
Shah emphasized that the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Forces (SDRF) are working on a "war footing" to conduct rescue and relief operations. To ensure a comprehensive recovery, Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs) will be deployed soon to assess the total impact of the cyclone and determine the further assistance required.
Current Weather Status
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the system—which began as Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Arnab—has since weakened. Now a depression, the remnant of the storm moved northwards at a speed of 22 kmph.
As of 5:30 am on Thursday, the system was centered over south Odisha and south Chhattisgarh. Specifically, it was positioned approximately:
- 20 km west of Jagdalpur (Chhattisgarh)
- 170 km southwest of Bhawanipatna (Odisha)
- 210 km southwest of Titlagarh (Odisha)
- 250 km south of Raipur
- 350 km southwest of Sambalpur (Odisha)