Odisha on High Alert as Severe Cyclone Threatens Bay of Bengal, 8 Ministers Assigned Districts

Odisha has stepped up its preparedness amid the threat of a severe cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal, which is forecast to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam. The state government has placed the administration on high alert, cancelled leave for officials in potentially affected districts and assigned eight ministers to oversee preparedness and relief measures.

The ministers will remain in their respective districts from October 27 to 29 to monitor the situation and coordinate response measures.

Eight Ministers Assigned to Eight Districts

The Odisha government has assigned eight ministers to eight districts expected to be among the worst affected by the approaching weather system.

The district-wise assignments are as follows:

• Koraput: Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo
• Rayagada: Pravati Parida
• Kandhamal: Rabi Narayan Naik
• Ganjam: Bibhuti Bhushan Jena
• Nabarangpur: Krushna Chandra Patra
• Malkangiri: Nityananda Gond
• Kalahandi: Mukesh Mahaling
• Gajapati: Suryabanshi Suraj

The ministers will oversee preparedness, monitor the evolving situation and coordinate with district administrations to ensure a prompt response to any emergency.

Five IAS Officers Deployed for Coordination

The state government has also assigned five IAS officers to five districts to strengthen cyclone management and administrative coordination.

The officers and their respective districts are:

• Rayagada: K. Sudarshan Chakravarthy
• Koraput: Dr Poma Tudu
• Gajapati: Bijay Kumar Dash
• Malkangiri: Dr Yedula Vijay
• Nabarangpur: Dr Maheswar Swain

The deployment is aimed at improving coordination among departments and ensuring that relief and emergency response measures are implemented effectively.

Heavy Rain Forecast from October 27 to 30

According to the Regional Meteorological Centre, several districts of Odisha are likely to experience heavy rainfall from October 27, with the spell expected to continue until October 30. Southern Odisha is likely to be particularly affected.

An orange alert has been issued for Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati and Ganjam districts for October 27, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall.

For October 28, a red warning has been issued for Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati and Ganjam districts due to the possibility of extremely heavy rainfall.

An orange alert has also been issued for Bargarh, Nuapada, Balangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Puri, Khordha and Nayagarh districts for the same day.

Sundargarh district is under an orange alert for October 29.

Strong Winds Expected Along Odisha Coast

The weather department has warned of strong winds along the Odisha coast between October 27 and 29.

Wind speeds are expected to reach 40–50 kmph, with gusts reaching up to 60 kmph in coastal areas.

The approaching cyclone is forecast to intensify significantly before making landfall along the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coast. According to the forecast cited in the report, wind speeds near the landfall area could reach 115–125 kmph, with gusts up to 140 kmph.

Fishermen Advised to Stay Away from the Sea

With sea conditions expected to deteriorate, fishermen have been prohibited from venturing into the sea from October 27 to 29.

The state government has intensified monitoring and preparedness measures in vulnerable districts to minimise the potential impact of heavy rainfall, strong winds and other weather-related disruptions.

District administrations have been directed to remain vigilant, while the deployment of ministers and senior IAS officers is expected to strengthen coordination during the critical period.

Note: The cyclone’s projected intensity, landfall location and timing are forecast details and may change with subsequent meteorological updates. Readers should follow the latest official advisories issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).