Heavy rains lash parts of Odisha as cyclone Arnab nears east coast

Heavy rains, accompanied by strong winds, lashed parts of Odisha on Tuesday as very severe cyclonic storm Arnab moved towards the east coast, with landfall expected along the Andhra Pradesh shore within the next 24 hours, the IMD said.

#WATCH | Khordha, Odisha: Rain lashes parts of Khordha district, bringing a distinct change in weather as Cyclone Arnab approaches. As a precautionary measure, tourist boat services have been suspended for three days to ensure public safety. Local authorities are closely monitoring the situation along the coastal areas and water bodies.

— ANI (@ANI) October 27, 2026

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange warning, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall of 12-20 cm, for six districts — Puri, Gajapati, Ganjam, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri.
The districts under the yellow warning, indicating rainfall of 7-11 cm, are Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Khurda, Nayagarh, Jagatsinghpur, Nuapada, Balangir and Boudh.In its latest bulletin, the IMD said the very severe cyclonic storm Arnab moved at 22 kmph over the previous six hours and was centred at 5.30 am over the Bay of Bengal about 260 km southeast of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.

#WATCH | Bhubaneswar, Odisha: On the Cyclone Arnab, Director, IMD Bhubaneswar Manorama Mohanty says, "... Now it is about 380 km south of Gopalpur, and it is very likely to move west-northwestward till evening of today, 27th October, and thereafter it is very likely to move north-westward and cross Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam very close to Yanam as a very severe cyclonic storm while crossing the coast it will maintain its intensity at as very severe cyclonic storm and the maximum sustained wind speed of 125 kilometer per hour... It is very likely to move north-westward and cross the coast. Then it is going to recurve... Today, widespread rainfall activity is very likely to occur over the state, with heavy to very heavy rainfall... For tomorrow, widespread rainfall activity is very likely over the state, with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places, with isolated extremely heavy rainfall very likely... The rainfall will be associated with intense thunderstorms and lightning. Therefore, people should take necessary precautions..."

— ANI (@ANI) October 27, 2026

The storm is likely to move west-northwestwards until the evening of October 27, before turning northwestwards and crossing the Andhra Pradesh coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Yanam, by the forenoon of October 28.The system is expected to make landfall with maximum sustained wind speeds of 115-125 kmph and gusts of up to 140 kmph, the IMD said.Odisha Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said the state was prepared to deal with the situation, with personnel and equipment deployed at vulnerable locations.People living in low-lying areas were being moved to safer places, he added.