Severe Floods and Landslides in Odisha Due to Cyclone Arnab, Thousands Stranded

Heavy rainfall and floods triggered by Cyclone Arnab in the southern and southwestern parts of Odisha have caused massive destruction in Ganjam, Gajapati, and Kandhamal districts. This natural calamity has resulted in landslides and flood conditions, claiming a total of three lives, including a nine-month-old infant. A couple and their nine-month-old son died in a landslide in Kandhamal district. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has announced an ex-gratia of ₹4 lakh for the families of the deceased.

According to a report by The Hindu, roads have been cut off and hundreds of villages have submerged in floodwaters in Ganjam and Gajapati districts. The state government has begun preparations to airlift people trapped in the floodwaters. Approximately 2,000 people are surrounded in Ganjam district, cut off from all sides by floodwaters. The Ganjam District Collector is present at the spot and monitoring rescue operations. State Chief Secretary Anu Garg stated that Indian Coast Guard rescue helicopters are on standby, but continuous rain and low clouds are hampering aerial operations.

According to a report by Hindustan Times, Odisha recorded its highest single-day rainfall in the last 35 years. Patrapur in Ganjam district recorded 546 mm of rainfall in 24 hours, the highest single-location rainfall in the state in the last 35 years. Sorada in Ganjam district recorded 503.8 mm and G. Udayagiri in Kandhamal recorded 462.4 mm of rainfall. Mahendragarh in Gajapati recorded 458.8 mm of rainfall. According to IMD data, at the end of 24 hours under the influence of the floods, Patrapur and Sorada recorded 546 mm and 503 mm of rainfall respectively. G. Udayagiri in Kandhamal and Mahendragarh in Gajapati also recorded over 400 mm of rainfall.

According to a report by Business Standard, approximately 50,000 people have been affected by floods in Ganjam district, while 30,000 in Gajapati and 12,000 people have been affected in Kandhamal. Extensive damage has occurred in Ganjam due to the overflowing of the Rushikulya river, rendering villages flood-affected, destroying bridges, and washing away roads. About 10 feet of water has accumulated in Dasamaili village of Dharakote block. A 30-foot breach has occurred in the Rushikulya river near Achuli and the bridge near Patashala has been washed away. Water has entered residential areas in places like Aska, Bhanjanagar, Purushottampur, and Sanakhemundi.

According to a report by NDTV, over 23,000 people in the state are in relief camps. Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari stated that 313 rescue teams have been deployed, out of which over 100 teams are operating in Ganjam and Gajapati districts. Four helicopters of the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard will be used to drop food packets in inaccessible areas of Ganjam district. Food packets have been airdropped at 21 identified locations in Ganjam district. Due to the heavy water current, it was not possible to reach affected people even through modern boats, hence NDRF and ODRAF personnel delivered cooked food through boats.

In Gajapati district, about a 300-meter stretch of National Highway 326 at Ledabanda in Mohana block has been washed away by floodwaters, cutting off connectivity between Mohana and Ganjam. National Highway 326 connecting Ganjam and Mohana was also washed away by floodwaters. The hilly terrain has made the situation more serious as rainwater flows down rapidly into lower areas, causing minor landslides. The paddy crop ready for harvesting has also been damaged due to the floods. Train services have been affected as water levels on two railway bridges in the Ichchapuram-Jadupudi section of the Visakhapatnam division are above the danger mark, causing railways to cancel 9 trains and divert 14 trains.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and took stock of the situation. Shah assured all possible assistance from the Centre to Odisha and other affected states to combat the effects of the floods. He has spoken with the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh. NDRF and SDRF teams have been deployed on a war footing to carry out rescue and relief operations. A central team will visit Odisha on November 2 to assess the flood damage.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi stated that as part of preparations for Cyclone Arnab, the administration was expecting a major impact in Malkangiri district, but no one had imagined that Ganjam district would receive such heavy rainfall and severe flooding. He said the administration is working round the clock to protect people's lives and property. The Chief Minister has sanctioned an additional ₹20 crore for relief and rescue operations in Ganjam district. President Droupadi Murmu, who was scheduled to visit Odisha from November 3, has cancelled her visit in view of the situation and spoke with the Chief Minister.

Politically, opposition BJD, Congress, and Left parties have criticized the BJP government and alleged that despite advance warnings from the IMD, the government failed to take adequate preventive measures. On the other hand, Transport Minister B.B. Jena stated that with the receding water level of the Bahuda river, National Highway-16 connecting Kolkata and Chennai has become operational. To assist in relief operations in Ganjam district, 30 senior Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) officers have also been deployed. Ganjam Collector V. Keerthi Vasan stated that relief materials are being distributed from Thursday.