Cyclone Arnab impact in Chhattisgarh

The Raipur Meteorological Department issued a red alert for the Bastar division in Chhattisgarh as Cyclone Arnab, originating from a low-pressure system in the Bay of Bengal, was projected to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm. Initial forecasts predicted landfall between Kakinada and Visakhapatnam around October 28, with risks of heavy rainfall exceeding 204 mm and wind speeds reaching 60 to 90 km/h in districts such as Bastar, Dantewada, and Sukma.

As the weather system progressed, forecasts indicated intensifying activity through October 31. Heavy to very heavy rainfall was expected to spread across the Bastar, Raipur, Durg, Bilaspur, and Surguja divisions. While wind speeds in the Bastar division were expected to peak around October 28, the heavy rainfall was projected to shift toward the Raipur and Durg divisions on October 29, eventually moving toward the western districts of Bilaspur and Surguja by October 30.

By October 28, Cyclone Arnab had begun causing significant disruptions, including power outages and fallen trees in Raipur. In response to warnings from the India Meteorological Department, authorities ordered the closure of schools and educational institutions in several districts, including Raipur, Sukma, Narayanpur, Bijapur, Dantewada, and Rajnandgaon, to ensure safety under the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

Alerts for heavy to very heavy rainfall have been issued for northern Chhattisgarh, specifically targeting Balrampur, Jashpur, Korea, Surajpur, and Surguja, where winds are expected to reach speeds of up to 50 km/h. State officials have instructed district collectors to maintain vigilance and have strengthened medical monitoring systems and relief camps.