Cyclone Update / Cyclone Arnab: Odisha Chief Secretary Anu Garg Briefs Union Cabinet Secretary On Preparedness

Bhubaneswar, Oct 26: Odisha has finalised its preparations to deal with the possible impact of Cyclone Arnab, with senior officials deployed in five vulnerable districts of southern Odisha, more than 3,000 pregnant women identified for evacuation and emergency response teams kept on alert.

Chief Secretary Anu Garg briefed the Union Cabinet Secretary on the state's preparedness during a review meeting on Monday. The state government has directed the Power and Water Resources departments to remain alert and ensure prompt response during the cyclone.

ଦିନ ୧ଟାର ମୁଖ୍ୟଖବର #1PMHeadlines #IPMTopHeadlines #ArgusNews https://t.co/4xMWMfqx7l

— Argus News (@ArgusNews_in) October 26, 2026

"We informed the Cabinet Secretary that preparations for the upcoming cyclone have been completed. Ministers and senior officers have been deployed in the five vulnerable districts of southern Odisha," Garg said.

Fishermen Accounted For, Pregnant Women Shifted
The Coast Guard has confirmed that fishermen who had ventured into the sea have returned, according to Garg.

Around 3,000 pregnant women who may deliver in the coming days have already been shifted to hospitals, she said, adding that the administration is prioritising the safety of vulnerable residents.

The state has also coordinated with the Chhattisgarh government over the possibility of heavy rainfall in the Bastar region after the cyclone makes landfall and moves inland.

Also Read: Cyclone Arnab Forms Over Bay Of Bengal, Red Alert For Five Odisha Districts

Odisha Coordinates With Chhattisgarh On Reservoirs
Garg said a team had been formed to coordinate with Chhattisgarh authorities over the release of water from dams. The neighbouring state has been asked to inform Odisha before releasing water so that the state can manage reservoir levels and downstream flows.

"We have also coordinated with Chhattisgarh authorities to inform us before releasing water. We are promptly managing the water reservoirs for effective water management," she said.

The Union Cabinet Secretary assured the state that the Centre would provide additional National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams if required to deal with any eventuality, Garg added.

135 Permanent, 1,600 Temporary Shelters Ready
Odisha State Relief Commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Patil said 135 permanent shelters and 1,600 temporary shelters had been established in view of the approaching cyclone.

"The government is prepared. There is no need to panic," Patil said.