Post-Arnab cyclone, heavy rain wreaks havoc in Odisha’s Ganjam, Gajapati districts

A drone view of the inundated area of Berhampur in the wake of the Cyclone Arnab, in Ganjam, Odisha, on October 29, 2026. | Photo Credit: PTI

Heavy rain triggered by cyclone Arnab wreaked havoc in Odisha’s Ganjam, Gajapati and Kandhamal districts on Thursday (October 29, 2026), washing away roads, marooning villages and triggering landslides, as State officials struggled to restore normalcy.

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The rainfall recorded in the three districts was among the highest ever recorded. “Exceptionally heavy rainfall occurred over south Odisha during the past 24 hours, ending at 8.30 a.m. on Thursday. The highest rainfall of 546 mm was recorded at Patrapur [Ganjam], followed by 503 mm at Sorada [Ganjam], 462 mm at G. Udayagiri [Kandhamal], 458 mm at Mahendragarh [Gajapati], 388 mm at Sanakhemundi [Ganjam] and 309 mm at Chikiti (Ganjam),” the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

A stretch of the National Highway 326 connecting Berhampur with Mohana was washed away by swirling floodwaters, disrupting road connectivity. Road infrastructure also suffered extensive damage in Gajapati district. The hilly terrain compounded the situation, as torrents of rainwater rushed downhill into low-lying areas, triggering landslides and damaging infrastructure. At several places, floodwaters flowed over major roads, halting vehicular movement in the two districts.

In Ganjam district alone, 42,500 people were marooned by floodwaters, while 11,000 people were shifted from vulnerable areas to designated shelters.

Coast Guard steps in

With roads cut off and hundreds of villages inundated by floodwaters in Ganjam, the State government roped in the Coast Guard to airlift people stranded in Dharakote block.

“In response to a distress call received from the Ganjam district administration on the morning of October 29, 2026, the Coast Guard Air Enclave, Bhubaneswar, scrambled an ALH Mk-III helicopter despite severe weather conditions,” the Coast Guard said in a statement.

“Despite challenging conditions, the aircrew located the heavily inundated Public Health Centre in Jagmohan, where people were stranded by floodwaters following the storm. Hovering precisely over the submerged area, the crew successfully winched six people, including two women, two children and an elderly person, to safety,” the statement said.

The cyclonic storm triggered widespread rainfall across the southern and southwestern districts of Odisha. More than 200 villages in 22 blocks across Ganjam and Gajapati districts were severely affected. Life was paralysed in many parts of Ganjam as floodwaters inundated villages and towns. The State government deployed 15 additional Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) units to Ganjam to intensify rescue and relief operations. The Rushikulya, Vansadhara and Mahendratanaya rivers were in spate.

State Chief Secretary Anu Garg said, “Heavy rain over the past 24 hours has left several villages and towns submerged in Ganjam and Gajapati districts. We are hopeful that the water level will recede with time.”

Crops damaged

Besides disrupting normal life and transport, the floods also damaged paddy crops nearing harvest in parts of southern Odisha, dealing a blow to farmers.

Meanwhile, the East Coast Railway said train services in the Ichchapuram–Jhadupudi section of Visakhapatnam Division were affected due to water flowing above the danger level over Bridge No.1052. Dozens of trains were cancelled and diverted.

Published - October 29, 2026 10:23 pm IST