At least four people have died and 12 remain missing following landslides and heavy rainfall associated with Cyclone Arnab in Odisha, according to reports published on October 31. Three members of a family, including a nine-month-old baby, were killed when a landslide buried their house in Kandhamal district on October 30, while a separate landslide in Ganjam district triggered a search operation for those missing.
Ganjam, Gajapati and Kandhamal are among the worst-affected districts, with flooding disrupting transport and leaving residents stranded. The Odisha government has intensified rescue and relief operations, including aerial food deliveries to affected communities. A central team is scheduled to visit the state on November 2 to assess the damage.
Floods And Landslides
At least four people have died in rain-related incidents across Odisha following Cyclone Arnab, while 12 people remain missing after a separate landslide in Gidipabali village in Ganjam district, according to Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Patil. Three members of a family, including a nine-month-old baby, were killed when a landslide buried their house in Dangesi village under Raikia block in Kandhamal district.
In a separate incident, a person who had earlier been reported missing was found dead in Gajapati district. Meanwhile, rescue teams comprising around 170 personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), Fire Services and the Special Operations Group are searching for the 12 people still unaccounted for in Gidipabali. The state government has intensified relief operations as flooding and landslides continue to affect southern Odisha.
Rescue Operations Intensified
The state government has deployed 313 rescue teams across Odisha, with more than 100 working in Ganjam and Gajapati districts, according to Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari. More than 23,000 people were staying in relief camps, while many others remained stranded in inundated areas. Officials estimated that around 50,000 people had been severely affected in Ganjam, 30,000 in Gajapati and 12,000 in Kandhamal. Four Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard helicopters were deployed to airdrop food packets in flood-hit Ganjam, with supplies delivered to 21 identified locations.
Personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) have also been transporting cooked food by boat to people stranded by floodwaters. The state government sanctioned an additional ₹20 crore for relief and rescue operations in Ganjam. Meanwhile, the overflowing Rushikulya river inundated villages, damaged bridges and washed away sections of roads. National Highway 16 became operational after water levels in the Bahuda river receded, although some train services remained disrupted.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Natural disasters expose the vulnerability of communities living in flood-prone and landslide-prone areas, particularly when roads are damaged and access to food, drinking water and medical care becomes difficult. While rescue operations and immediate relief are essential, the situation also highlights the need for effective early-warning systems, timely evacuation, safer housing in vulnerable locations and stronger disaster preparedness at the local level.
Authorities must ensure that relief reaches remote villages, older people, children and families who may struggle to evacuate without assistance. Transparent damage assessments and timely financial support will also be important as affected communities begin rebuilding their lives. Political differences over preparedness should be addressed through accountability and constructive discussion, while immediate priority remains the protection of lives and the recovery of those affected. What more can governments and local communities do together to protect vulnerable families from floods and landslides?
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UPDATE | Cyclone Arnab devastates Odisha: 4 dead, 1.5 lakh affected. Heavy rain and floods have battered multiple districts, submerging villages and cutting off connectivity. Rescue teams, NDRF and ODRAF are deployed; helicopters are evacuating stranded residents. Authorities warn of continued rainfall as relief operations intensify.
— Aditya Kumar Trivedi (@adityasvlogs) October 31, 2026
