Cyclone Arnab: Centre Assures Aid to Affected States

The Cliff News | 29 October 2026

Union Home Minister Amit Shah held discussions on Thursday, October 28, 2026, with the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh regarding Cyclone Arnab. He pledged the full support of the central government to help mitigate the hardships faced by the people in the affected regions.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had earlier reported that the severe cyclonic storm, initially located over coastal Andhra Pradesh and the adjoining Bay of Bengal, had begun to weaken. The cyclone was moving slowly, at approximately 8 kmph, and had been downgraded to a cyclonic storm.

Cyclone Weakening and Movement

According to the IMD's bulletin from Wednesday night, Cyclone Arnab was expected to continue its north-northwestward trajectory for the subsequent 48 hours. Forecasts indicated a gradual weakening, with the cyclone predicted to reduce to a deep depression by midnight of October 28, 2026.

The Home Minister confirmed that immediate relief measures are underway. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been mobilized and are actively engaged in rescue and relief operations. These efforts are being conducted on a 'war footing' to provide swift assistance.

Central Assistance and Assessment

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Amit Shah stated, "In the wake of Cyclone Arnab, spoke with the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry, Odisha and Chhattisgarh and assured them of every assistance to mitigate the hardship of the people in the face of the disaster."

Shah further announced that Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs) will be dispatched shortly. Their mandate will be to conduct an on-site assessment of the damage caused by the cyclone and to determine the extent of further assistance required by the affected states. The government reiterated its unwavering commitment to stand by the people during this challenging time.