Bhubaneswar: With heavy rainfall triggered by Cyclone 'Arnab' causing severe flooding in Ganjam district, the Odisha government is planning to airlift people stranded in waterlogged areas of Sanakhemundi.

Odisha Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena informed that airlift operations would be undertaken to rescue people who have been surrounded by floodwaters in several villages, including Sindurapalli and Mundamarai.

The move comes amid a severe flood situation in parts of Ganjam district following continuous rainfall associated with the cyclone. Several areas have been inundated, leaving residents stranded and disrupting normal life.

Odisha Chief Secretary Anu Garg said the flood situation in Ganjam and Gajapati districts has deteriorated following heavy rainfall triggered by Cyclone 'Arnab', with around 2,000 people stranded in waterlogged areas. The state government is making arrangements to airlift 120 people trapped by floodwaters at four different places in Ganjam, she said.

Garg said the government was coordinating with the Coast Guard to carry out the airlift operation.

Meanwhile, the impact of the heavy rainfall has also disrupted railway services in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. According to Garg, water has submerged a railway bridge in Srikakulam, forcing trains to remain halted on both sides of the affected stretch.

Authorities are planning to transport stranded passengers by road. If road connectivity is not available, passengers will be accommodated at railway stations, where arrangements are being made to provide them with necessary facilities, the Chief Secretary said.

On the other hand, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has assured Odisha and other affected states of all possible assistance in dealing with the impact of Cyclone Arnab.

Shah said he had spoken with the chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry, Odisha and Chhattisgarh and assured them of the Centre's support to mitigate the hardships faced by people affected by the disaster.

He added that teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Forces (SDRF) had been deployed and were carrying out rescue and relief operations on a war footing.

Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs) will also be sent to assess the damage caused by the cyclone and determine the additional assistance required.