Odisha has activated disaster response measures as a cyclone is forecast to make landfall on October 28. Evacuations, closures and emergency deployments aim to protect vulnerable coastal and southern districts.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the well-marked low-pressure area was likely to become a depression on Saturday. (File photo)Bhubaneswar,Oct 24, 2026 20:40 ISTThe Odisha government on Saturday activated its disaster response machinery as a weather system over the Bay of Bengal was expected to develop into a cyclonic storm and make landfall between the northern Andhra Pradesh and southern Odisha coasts on the morning of October 28, news agency PTI reported.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the well-marked low-pressure area was likely to become a depression on Saturday, strengthen into a deep depression on October 25 and develop into a cyclonic storm by the morning of October 26."Moving west-northwestwards, it would continue to intensify further and reach west-central Bay of Bengal near the Andhra Pradesh coast around the morning of October 28," the IMD said.IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said the system was "likely to make landfall on the morning of October 28 somewhere between northern Andhra Pradesh and southern Odisha coasts".

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi reviewed Odisha's preparedness and directed officials to prioritise public safety, evacuation and emergency response, with the aim of preventing casualties, according to PTI.Majhi said the cyclone could bring heavy rainfall to southern and coastal Odisha, along with gusty winds of 70-90 kmph. Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri districts were likely to be the worst affected, while other coastal districts could also receive significant rainfall.

The chief minister directed the authorities to close schools, colleges and Anganwadi centres in the five districts on October 28 and 29. Collectors in other districts will decide whether to close educational institutions based on the developing situation.Majhi asked officials to move people from vulnerable areas to safer places.

He directed them to give special attention to shifting elderly people, patients and pregnant women to health centres.Rescue teams from the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force, National Disaster Response Force and Fire Services have been positioned in vulnerable areas. "Around 60 ODRAF teams and 17 NDRF teams have been deployed, while 225 fire service teams are on high alert," Majhi said.Officials at the block level were told to ensure that health facilities had adequate stocks of anti-snake venom in view of possible snakebite cases during flooding and waterlogging.The authorities were also directed to quickly restore electricity and road links if power lines were disrupted. The chief minister advised farmers to harvest their crops early to protect them from heavy rain and strong winds.Ganjam District Collector Keerthi Vasan V said the administration had kept 100 cyclone centres ready and identified 1,000 temporary shelters for people in case of evacuation.

The Water Resources Department was asked to continuously monitor water levels in reservoirs and rivers.Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said the state government had taken precautionary measures and asked all departments concerned to remain alert. The government has cancelled the leave of all its employees in Ganjam, Gajapati, Puri and Khurda districts.“We have asked all 30 districts to remain alert.

The collectors of 16 coastal and southern districts have been advised to take precautionary measures,” Pujari said. Puja committees in Cuttack were asked to immediately dismantle pandals erected for Durga Puja.Owners of large trawlers and vessels were also alerted, while fishermen in the deep sea were advised to return to the coast immediately.The IMD issued a red warning, calling for action, for Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati and Ganjam districts on October 28.

It forecast very heavy rain, with isolated extremely heavy rainfall of more than 20 cm. The rain is expected to be accompanied by severe thunderstorms, lightning and gusty surface winds of 60-70 kmph.With the system expected to make landfall on October 28, the Odisha government has placed rescue teams on alert, prepared shelters, planned evacuations and warned residents, farmers and fishermen in areas likely to be affected.- Ends