Amit Shah Speaks to CMs of States Hit by Cyclone Arnab, Promises ‘Every Assistance’

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday assured the states hit by Cyclone Arnab of all possible help, saying the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Forces (SDRF) are carrying out rescue and relief operations.

In a post on X, Shah said he had spoken to the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry, Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

“In the wake of Cyclone Arnab, I 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,” he wrote.

NDRF and SDRF teams “have sprung into action and are continuing rescue and relief operations on a war footing,” he said.

Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs) will soon be sent to assess the impact and the help still needed. “Government of India stands with the people with resolute commitment,” he added.

WHERE CYCLONE ARNAB IS NOW

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the deep depression, the remnant of Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Arnab, moved nearly northwards at 22 kmph over the past six hours and weakened into a depression.

At 5:30 am on Thursday, the system lay over south Chhattisgarh and adjoining south Odisha, near 19.0°N and 81.9°E.

It was about 20 km west of Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh, 170 km southwest of Bhawanipatna, 210 km southwest of Titlagarh, 250 km south of Raipur and 350 km southwest of Sambalpur.

The IMD expects it to keep moving nearly northwards and weaken into a well-marked low-pressure area by Thursday evening. The Doppler Weather Radars at Raipur and Sambalpur are tracking it.

A NEW SYSTEM IN THE ANDAMAN SEA

Separately, a low-pressure area formed on Wednesday over the south Andaman Sea and adjoining areas, under an upper-air cyclonic circulation.

The IMD expects it to move west-northwestwards and strengthen into a well-marked low-pressure area over the south Andaman Sea and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the next 24 hours.

It is then likely to become a depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas in the 24 hours after that.

With inputs from ANI