Bhubaneswar: With Cyclone Arnab likely to spare Odisha a direct hit but trigger heavy to extremely heavy rainfall across its southern districts, the state govt on Sunday intensified preparedness measures, deputing five senior IAS officers, deploying rescue teams and considering a pre-emptive release of water from Hirakud reservoir amid fears of heavy inflow into the Mahanadi system after landfall.IMD has forecast that the cyclone, packing winds of 115-125 kmph gusting to 140 kmph, is likely to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam on Wednesday forenoon before moving inland towards Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. Concerned over the possibility of intense rainfall in both south Odisha and upper catchment areas of Mahanadi, the state is preparing flood-management measures, including possible advance release of water from Hirakud.Five southern districts – Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri – are expected to receive heavy to extremely heavy rainfall and high-speed winds. The IMD has issued a red warning of extremely heavy rainfall (more than 20 cm in a day) at isolated places for these districts on Oct 28.To oversee preparedness and post-cyclone response, the govt has deputed senior IAS officers to vulnerable districts. K Sudarshan Chakravarthy has been assigned Rayagada, Poma Tudu Koraput, Vijay Kumar Dash Gajapati, Yeddula Vijay Malkangiri and Maheswar Swain Nabarangpur. Eight ministers have been asked to remain stationed in eight districts likely to be affected.The state has also deployed 24 ODRAF teams and six NDRF teams in vulnerable districts. Schools, colleges and anganwadi centres in the affected districts would remain closed on Oct 28 and 29.IMD director-general Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said several districts, particularly in south Odisha, are likely to receive heavy to extremely heavy rainfall between Oct 27 and 29, with the most intense spell expected on Oct 28, the day of landfall. Wind speeds in Odisha could reach 60-70 kmph, he said.Mohapatra warned that intense rainfall could trigger waterlogging, landslides, damage to houses and infrastructure, and crop losses in vulnerable areas.While issuing a red warning for five southern districts, the IMD has also placed Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Balangir, Bargarh, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh and Sundargarh under an orange alert.Revenue and disaster management minister Suresh Pujari said although current forecasts indicate Andhra Pradesh is likely to bear the brunt of Cyclone Arnab, with Odisha facing comparatively less impact, the state is leaving nothing to chance and has moved into the highest level of preparedness. “We are closely monitoring the evolving situation and have taken all precautionary measures,” he said.According to a govt release, leaves of all district-level officers and staff have been cancelled and 24×7 control rooms activated at district, block, tehsil and urban local body levels. Residents of kutcha houses, thatched dwellings and low-lying areas are being shifted to safer locations and cyclone shelters.Pregnant women nearing delivery are being moved to healthcare facilities, while special arrangements have been made for senior citizens, children and persons with disabilities. Fishing has been banned along the coast, and tourist entry to hills, waterfalls, dams and other scenic spots in the five vulnerable districts has been prohibited. The agriculture department has advised farmers to harvest mature crops and move them to safer storage.