Cyclone Arnab: Odisha on High Alert, 225 Rescue Teams Deployed
Odisha deploys 225 rescue teams and puts police on high alert as Cyclone Arnab threatens the coast with heavy rain and severe winds.
As a powerful weather system brews over the Bay of Bengal, Odisha has shifted into high gear to ensure Cyclone Arnab preparedness. With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warning that the system could intensify into a "very severe cyclonic storm," the state government has mobilized massive resources to protect vulnerable coastal populations and minimize potential damage.
Police and Disaster Teams on Standby
Inspector General of Police (IGP) for the Central Range, Cuttack, Satyajit Nayak, confirmed that police and disaster response units have already been stationed in the most vulnerable coastal districts. In a move to ensure maximum manpower, the Odisha government has cancelled the leaves of all disaster management personnel.
A total of 225 rescue teams have been placed on high alert across the state. Specifically, four teams from the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) have been deployed in each of the following districts:
- Puri
- Jagatsinghpur
- Cuttack
- Khordha
Strategic Coordination and Preventive Measures
Following a review meeting with the Superintendents of Police (SSPs) of seven districts, IGP Satyajit Nayak has mandated a synchronized effort between multiple agencies. The police are working in close coordination with the ODRAF, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority, Fire Services, and the Health Department.
Key directives issued to the police include:
- Evacuation and Rescue: Assisting district administrations in relocating residents from low-lying and flood-prone areas to designated cyclone shelters.
- Logistics Management: Prioritizing the clearance of fallen trees and waterlogged roads to ensure emergency vehicles can move without hindrance.
- Preventive Policing: Increasing patrols in affected residential neighborhoods to prevent thefts while residents are displaced or sheltered.
The Path of Cyclone Arnab
While the storm is expected to make landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast around the morning of October 28, Odisha is not out of danger. Manorama Mohanty, Director of the Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar, explained that the system will trigger severe weather, gusty winds, and extremely heavy rainfall across Odisha, particularly in its southern regions.
Timeline of Intensification:
- October 25: Likely to intensify into a deep depression over the east-central and southeast Bay of Bengal.
- October 26: Expected to become a cyclonic storm by the morning.
- October 27: Likely to escalate into a severe cyclonic storm.
- October 28: Predicted to reach the west-central Bay of Bengal as a "very severe cyclonic storm" before hitting Andhra Pradesh.
Emergency Support for Citizens
To ensure immediate assistance, 24/7 emergency control rooms have been made operational in all districts. IGP Nayak has urged the public to stay vigilant and contact these control rooms immediately in the event of an emergency to ensure a prompt police response.