Cyclone Arnab: Odisha Deploys 225 Rescue Teams; IMD Predicts Landfall

26 Oct 2026, 06:46 by Vinay Kakkad · KalingaTV

Odisha is ready to face Cyclone Arnab as the storm heads toward the coast, with emergency teams already on the ground and round-the-clock help centers open in every district.

The system started as a deep depression in the east-central and west-central Bay of Bengal before turning into a cyclonic storm named Arnab (pronounced Ornab). The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned people in Andhra Pradesh and southern Odisha to stay alert. Weather experts say the storm will move west-northwest and gain strength. It is likely to become a severe cyclonic storm by midnight on October 26, grow into a very severe cyclonic storm on October 27, and cross the Andhra Pradesh–Odisha coast around October 27 or 28.

To handle the danger, the Odisha government has stopped all leave for disaster workers and placed 225 rescue teams on high alert.

Field operations are moving in three steps. Right now, 20 teams from the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) are working in coastal areas. Another 40 teams will join them across two later stages, bringing the total ODRAF force to 60 teams. The state is also calling back older, trained ODRAF staff and teaming up with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).

Odisha ADG (Law & Order) Sanjay Kumar said senior officers held multiple planning meetings with IMD experts. While the cyclone is strong, he confirmed that local police, district teams, and disaster units are fully prepared from the district level down to local blocks.

Specific coastal areas have dedicated teams in place. Satyajit Nayak, Inspector General of Police (IGP) for Central Range, Cuttack, said on Sunday that four ODRAF teams have gone to each of four districts: Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, and Khordha.

Nayak said all Superintendents of Police (SPs) have orders to take quick safety steps and work closely with local district leaders. He added that emergency control rooms are open 24 hours a day in all districts and asked the public to call them right away if they need help.