Amit Shah assures four states of help as NDRF teams respond to Cyclone Arnab

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has phoned the Chief Ministers of four states hit by Cyclone Arnab and promised them "every assistance" as rescue and relief work continues.

Shah spoke to the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry, Odisha and Chhattisgarh on 29 October, according to a post he made on X that the Ministry of Home Affairs carried in its release. The release does not give figures for casualties, damage or the areas worst affected.

What the Centre says it is doing

Shah said the assistance was meant "to mitigate the hardship of the people in the face of the disaster". He added that teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Forces (SDRF) "have sprung into action and are continuing rescue and relief operations on a war footing".

Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs) will "soon be sent to assess the impact and further assistance required", he said. Such teams are sent to inspect damage so that central help can be decided.

"Government of India stands with the people with resolute commitment," Shah said.

What the release does not say

The release does not say where the cyclone made landfall, how many people have been affected or evacuated, or when the central teams will leave. Bharat Darshan Times will report those details when an official release gives them.

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Source: official release by the Ministry of Home Affairs, issued through the Press Information Bureau, Government of India (29 OCT 2026 11:36AM by PIB Delhi). Read the full official text: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah speaks to the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry, Odisha and Chhattisgarh, in the wake of Cyclone Arnab.