📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / VIIRS imagery from NOAA's NOAA-21 satellite
Weather
Cyclone Arnab Floods Gajapati, Threatening Paddy Crops in Odisha
✍️ LatestLY
🗓 29 Oct 2026, 04:36 PM
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Cyclone Arnab has caused extensive flooding in Gajapati district of Odisha, putting the region’s standing paddy fields at risk.
The tropical cyclone named Arnab moved over the eastern coast of India, bringing heavy rain and strong winds to Odisha's Gajapati district. Continuous downpours have led to the overflow of several rivers and low‑lying areas, resulting in widespread flooding across the district.
Local officials reported that water levels have risen sharply, inundating fields that are currently in the paddy‑rising stage. Farmers fear that prolonged sub‑mersion could damage the young crops and affect the upcoming harvest.
The state disaster management team has been deployed to monitor the situation, issuing advisories for residents to avoid low‑lying zones and to cooperate with relief efforts. Relief camps have been set up in nearby towns to accommodate displaced families, while the irrigation department is assessing the extent of damage to agricultural land.
Meteorological agencies continue to track Cyclone Arnab as it weakens inland, but they warn that further localized rainstorms may exacerbate the flooding. Authorities are urging communities to stay alert and follow safety instructions until the waters recede.
Local officials reported that water levels have risen sharply, inundating fields that are currently in the paddy‑rising stage. Farmers fear that prolonged sub‑mersion could damage the young crops and affect the upcoming harvest.
The state disaster management team has been deployed to monitor the situation, issuing advisories for residents to avoid low‑lying zones and to cooperate with relief efforts. Relief camps have been set up in nearby towns to accommodate displaced families, while the irrigation department is assessing the extent of damage to agricultural land.
Meteorological agencies continue to track Cyclone Arnab as it weakens inland, but they warn that further localized rainstorms may exacerbate the flooding. Authorities are urging communities to stay alert and follow safety instructions until the waters recede.