Heavy rain and strong winds have lashed southern Odisha under the influence of cyclonic storm Arnab. Rain continues in Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur, with rainfall intensity likely to increase today. The IMD has issued a red warning for five districts and an orange warning for several other parts of the state. Odisha is maintaining heightened preparedness, with the Chief Minister scheduled to monitor the post-landfall situation from the Special Relief Commissioner’s office.

Southern Odisha continues to experience heavy rain and strong winds under the influence of very severe cyclonic storm Arnab, which is crossing the Andhra Pradesh coast. According to the India Meteorological Department’s latest available landfall update, the storm was centred near the Andhra coast, close to Narsapur, after moving west-north-westwards. It is crossing the coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to south of Yanam, with sustained wind speeds of 125 to 135 kilometres per hour and gusts up to 145 kilometres per hour. In Odisha, Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur are among the districts facing severe weather. Gopalpur recorded the highest rainfall in the state over the last 24 hours, according to the available information. No casualties have been reported in Odisha so far. The state government is closely monitoring the situation, with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and the Revenue Minister scheduled to review post-landfall developments at the Special Relief Commissioner’s office. Authorities have shifted more than one lakh people living in vulnerable areas to safer locations. A number of trains have been cancelled, or routes have been diverted for today, while bus services to southern districts from other parts of the state have been completely suspended. Fishing activities remain suspended as the sea continues to be very rough.