Bhubaneswar, October 29:Continuous rainfall associated with Cyclone ‘Arnab’ has triggered flooding in Odisha’s Ganjam and Gajapati districts, affecting approximately 62,500 people. The state government has intensified rescue and relief operations, focusing on public safety, evacuation, and providing essential supplies to affected communities.

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Odisha Chief Secretary Anu Garg reviewed the flood situation at a meeting held at the Special Relief Commissioner’s (SRC) office on Wednesday morning. She assessed the impact of the heavy rainfall and instructed officials to strengthen rescue, relief, and emergency response measures.

During the meeting, Garg spoke with Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Patil and Ganjam District Collector V. Keerthi Vasan to review the situation, particularly in the worst-affected areas of Ganjam district. Discussions covered preparations made ahead of the cyclone and measures being implemented to address flooding caused by persistent rainfall.

The Chief Secretary also discussed the situation with Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari and provided further guidance on relief and rescue operations.

More than 1,000 villages affected

According to the latest assessment, 299 villages across 208 Gram Panchayats in 22 blocks of Ganjam district and 711 villages across 110 Gram Panchayats in seven blocks of Gajapati district have been severely affected.

Around 42,500 people in Ganjam and 20,000 in Gajapati have been affected by the floods. Authorities have evacuated 11,882 people in Ganjam and 17,441 in Gajapati and accommodated them in designated cyclone and flood shelters.

In Ganjam, 2,328 people from 70 villages remain surrounded by floodwaters. Strong currents have prevented National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams from reaching some locations.

In view of the challenges, aerial evacuation has been proposed for areas where conventional rescue operations are not feasible. District Collectors have been directed to identify such locations and submit lists of people requiring urgent assistance.

Officials have also been instructed to ensure the availability of cooked food, drinking water and other essential supplies in affected areas. The Chief Secretary has contacted senior authorities regarding the deployment of specialised Indian Coast Guard helicopters. A decision on aerial rescue will be taken wherever the situation demands urgent intervention.

Disaster response teams deployed

The state has deployed multiple emergency response teams to support rescue and relief operations in the affected districts.

In Ganjam, 27 ODRAF teams, three NDRF teams and 24 Fire Services teams have been mobilised. Gajapati has been provided with 12 ODRAF teams, one NDRF team and 12 Fire Services teams.

Special arrangements have also been made to protect pregnant women. A total of 550 pregnant women in Ganjam and 420 in Gajapati have been shifted to safer locations.

Heavy rainfall triggers flooding along Bahuda River

Heavy rainfall has caused water levels to rise in the Baghalati Reservoir and the Bahuda River basin, particularly in Chikiti and Patrapur blocks of Ganjam district. The resulting rise in water levels has also disrupted train services near Ichchapuram in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

In anticipation of the threat posed by Cyclone ‘Arnab’ and the India Meteorological Department’s forecast of heavy rainfall, water was released from the reservoir in advance to regulate its storage capacity.

However, intense rainfall in the upstream catchment area began on the evening of October 27. By 11 a.m. on October 28, the reservoir’s inflow had risen to 550 cubic metres per second, forcing authorities to release water through four gates.

The situation worsened as Patrapur block recorded 546 mm of rainfall between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. on October 28, while Chikiti received 289 mm during the same period. The heavy downpour increased the flow of the Bahuda River, leading to flooding in downstream areas.

Train services disrupted near Odisha–Andhra Pradesh border

The flooding has affected railway operations after officials reported an abnormal rise in water levels at Railway Bridge No. 1052 near Danguada, between Ichchapuram and Jatpudi railway stations.

Several trains have been held up on both sides of the Odisha–Andhra Pradesh border due to the unsafe water levels near the bridge.

Authorities are maintaining continuous coordination with the district administrations of Ganjam and Srikakulam, along with East Coast Railway officials based in Visakhapatnam and Bhubaneswar, to monitor the situation and facilitate necessary action.

Chief Secretary Anu Garg has spoken with the concerned railway authorities and directed the Ganjam District Collector to take all necessary measures. Officials have also been instructed to ensure that stranded passengers and other members of the public receive timely and accurate information about the disruption.

Minister monitors rescue and rehabilitation efforts

Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari is closely monitoring the post-cyclone flood situation, including rescue operations, relief distribution, recovery and rehabilitation measures.

Senior officials, including the Principal Secretary of the Water Resources Department, attended the review meeting to assess the evolving situation and coordinate the government’s response.

The state administration has stressed the need for continuous monitoring, effective coordination among departments and prompt assistance to affected communities. Ensuring public safety, reaching people stranded by floodwaters and minimising the impact of the disaster remain the key priorities as rescue and relief operations continue.