Cyclone Arnab prompted Odisha authorities to shut schools and anganwadi centres across several districts, cancel more than 20 trains and place three airports on alert as heavy rain and strong winds affected parts of the state on Tuesday. The measures are aimed at reducing public exposure and maintaining emergency readiness as the system threatens further disruption.
Schools and anganwadi centres will remain closed on Wednesday in Khurda, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kalahandi, Puri and Nuapada. Collectors in Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Nabarangpur and Malkangiri also ordered educational institutions to close in anticipation of stronger impacts.
In Khurda, students in Bhubaneswar and other parts of the district had already reached schools when heavy rain and strong winds intensified on Tuesday. The administration subsequently ordered the institutions to close after the midday meal was served at 1 pm. The closure will remain in force until October 28.
Khurda Collector Amrit Ruturaj said the order applies to government, government-aided, Odisha Adarsha Vidyalayas and privately managed schools from Sishu Vatika to Class XII. Teachers and other staff have been instructed to attend their institutions, while school buildings and essential facilities must remain ready for use as emergency shelters if required.
Cuttack Collector Dattatraya Bhausaheb Shinde announced the closure of schools, colleges and anganwadi centres in the district on Wednesday. Teaching and non-teaching staff in Puri, Kalahandi and Jagatsinghpur have been asked to report to their institutions despite the closure. Nuapada has ordered schools to remain shut until October 29.
The Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar, along with the airports at Jeypore and Utkela, was placed on alert. Contingency plans have been activated to protect passengers and maintain operational readiness. Bhubaneswar airport director Prasanna Pradhan said flight operations were expected to remain normal for the time being, although officials were monitoring wind conditions closely.
Weather had already affected regional aviation on Tuesday. A nine-seater aircraft travelling from Utkela to Bhubaneswar was diverted to Rourkela because of rain before resuming its journey and landing in Bhubaneswar after conditions improved. Officials said connectivity to Utkela and Jeypore could be affected if wind speeds exceed 50 kmph, as the small aircraft serving these routes are not designed to operate safely in such conditions.
Most flights from Bhubaneswar to domestic destinations were expected to continue, although services to southern destinations could face weather-related problems around Visakhapatnam. The airport authorities have not announced a general suspension of operations.
East Coast Railway cancelled more than 20 express and passenger trains connecting Visakhapatnam, Secunderabad, Kirandul, Jagdalpur, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Rayagada, Howrah, Bhubaneswar and Koraput on different dates between October 27 and November 5. The Bhubaneswar-Jagdalpur Hirakhand Express will be short-terminated at Rayagada from October 27 to 30. The return Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar service will originate from Rayagada instead of Jagdalpur from October 28 to 31.
Railway officials have advised passengers to check the National Train Enquiry System and official Indian Railways platforms for the latest service information before beginning their journeys.
