Bhubaneswar, October 25: Stepping up its preparedness for the impending Cyclone Arnab, the Odisha government on Sunday deputed five senior IAS officers to five southern Odisha districts, which are expected to bear the brunt of the storm, to coordinate preparedness measures and ensure the smooth delivery of relief, rehabilitation and restoration work.

The officers have been assigned to Rayagada, Koraput, Gajapati, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur districts to assist local administrations as the weather system over the Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify over the next few days.

According to an order issued by the General Administration and Public Grievances Department, OSCSC Managing Director K. Sudarshan Chakravarthy has been assigned to Rayagada, while ST&SC Development Department Additional Secretary Dr Poma Tudu will oversee preparedness in Koraput.

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Health and Family Welfare Department Additional Secretary Bijay Kumar Dash has been deputed to Gajapati, Sports Director Yeddula Vijay to Malkangiri, and Additional Secretary to the Chief Minister Dr Maheswar Swain to Nabarangpur.

The officers will work closely with the respective district administrations to strengthen preparedness and facilitate relief, rehabilitation and restoration operations associated with the impending cyclone.

Cyclone threat intensifies

The weather system is forecast to intensify into a cyclonic storm over the east-central and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal by the morning of October 26, before strengthening further into a severe cyclonic storm by October 27.

It is likely to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm and reach the west-central Bay of Bengal near the Andhra Pradesh coast by the morning of October 28.

The system is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam by the forenoon of October 28, with sustained wind speeds of 115–125 kmph and gusts reaching up to 140 kmph.

With the storm potentially affecting southern Odisha, the state government has intensified its administrative preparedness, particularly in districts considered vulnerable to its impact.

Educational institutions to remain closed

As a precautionary measure, schools, colleges and anganwadi centres will remain closed on October 28 and 29 in Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri districts.

Collectors in other districts have been authorised to decide on the closure of educational institutions based on the evolving weather situation and local requirements.

The government’s latest measures are aimed at ensuring administrative readiness, minimising disruption and facilitating a coordinated response during the natural disaster.